Playing for progress: Malayali entrepreneur develops VR therapy for stroke patients

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Picking up a virtual ball, dropping it into a basket or bursting a balloon may seem like play. For stroke survivors working to regain movement in their arms, however, such activities could become part of their rehabilitation.

Skillveri, a Chennai-based company founded by Thiruvananthapuram native Sabarinath C. Nair, has developed a virtual reality (VR)-based therapy system with support from the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST). Clinical trials are expected to begin soon.

Using a VR headset, patients can interact with virtual objects and games designed to encourage movement across the joints from the shoulder to the wrist. Their hands are also visible in the virtual environment, allowing them to see the movements they attempt.

Artificial intelligence (AI) tracks their efforts and progress, recording even small movements and generating reports for doctors. This could help medical professionals monitor patients’ progress during therapy. The virtual environment can also recreate recreational settings such as Kovalam, potentially making therapy sessions more engaging.

Sabarinath, who serves as Skillveri’s founder and CEO, is behind the initiative, which combines VR-based exercises with AI-assisted movement tracking. Initially, the system is expected to be used in hospitals treating stroke patients and in physiotherapy centres. Its price has not yet been fixed.