VIRTUAL REALITY AND AUGMENTED REALITY IN MEDICAL TRAINING AND REHABILITATION

Abstract

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are reshaping medical training and rehabilitation by providing immersive, repeatable, and data‐rich environments for skill acquisition and patient recovery. In education, VR/AR simulators improve psychomotor skills, reduce error rates, and accelerate time-to-competence, while AR overlays anatomical or procedural guidance onto real-world tasks. In rehabilitation, task-specific, gamified VR enhances adherence, motor relearning, and cognitive engagement; AR supports contextual feedback for gait/balance and activities of daily living. This article synthesizes evidence on effectiveness, safety, human factors, and implementation, with a focus on low- and middle-income country (LMIC) considerations. We outline design principles (fidelity, haptics, feedback, and adaptivity), evaluation methods, regulatory/ethical issues, and a pragmatic roadmap for hospitals and rehab centers.