VR-ADAPT: A Virtual Reality Environment for Skill Development in New Wheelchair Users with Spinal Cord Injuries

Abstract

[Abstract] Annually, hundreds of thousands of individuals worldwide experience mobility-limiting injuries that compromise not only their walking ability but frequently the functionality of their upper extremities as well. Such injuries constitute a profound life transformation, necessitating an intensive period of learning and adjustment to new physical realities. We introduce VR-ADAPT, a novel virtual reality platform conceived to support this critical transition toward greater independence. The system comprises three integrated components: an advanced electric wheelchair operation simulator, immersive digital recreations of home and professional environments, and a suite of therapeutic serious games embedded within these spaces. Through gamification strategies, users can safely acquire and refine the competencies needed to navigate their everyday environments with confidence. A comprehensive kinematic capture and analysis module continuously records detailed performance metrics throughout training sessions, furnishing rehabilitation professionals with objective, quantifiable data to track patient advancement. This evidence-based approach enables more precise therapy customization and improved clinical outcomes.