Virtual Hippotherapy for the Treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis

Abstract

We present a prototype of an integrated virtual reality (VR) system which is intended to supplement traditional therapeutic practices for the conservative treatment of idiopathic scoliosis. Our solution is inspired by equine-assisted therapy (hippotherapy) and includes a horse riding simulator, therapist GUI as well as a synchronized visualization using either a conventional monitor or a head-mounted display (HMD) as an output device. A proof-of-concept study indicates that the system could constitute a valuable addition to the practice of physical therapy.