VR collaboration with Sheffield Hallam University featured on Channel 4 News

23 August 2022

Virtual Reality gaming is helping children to recover after surgery.

A recent feature on Channel 4 news highlighted the fantastic work of our collaborators at Sheffield Hallam University and Sheffield Children’s Hospital, developing a Virtual Reality game to support children during physiotherapy after surgery.

The article follows the story of Noel, who at 12 years old has already had 18 operations due to a rare condition. After these operations, a period of rehabilitation and physiotherapy is needed to help him get active and independent again. For Noel, and many other children like him, this can be a painful process.

Ivan Phelan and his team at Sheffield Hallam University saw the potential of Virtual Reality gaming to help children navigate these challenges, and over the last few years they have been collaborating with NIHR CYP MedTech and Sheffield Children’s Hospital to bring these ideas to life. The team have developed a range of games to help children to achieve more in their physiotherapy in a fun, engaging way that distracts from, or even reduces, pain.

Please follow the link below to find out more about this amazing work, and the positive impact it has already had on Noel and his family.