Cardiff researchers develop virtual reality physiotherapy system to support rehabilitation at home

Researchers at Cardiff University, in collaboration with industry experts Euleria Health, have developed a virtual reality-based physiotherapy rehabilitation system that could help meet growing demand for musculoskeletal care by supporting people to manage their rehabilitation at home.

The system, known as SPIN-VR (Sensor-based Physiotherapy Intervention with Virtual Reality), uses movement sensors to monitor exercise performance and tailor rehabilitation to each individual. Designed for people with knee osteoarthritis, it provides real-time feedback, reassurance that exercises are being performed correctly, and automatically adjusts difficulty levels as users progress.

Knee osteoarthritis affects an estimated 375 million people worldwide and is a leading cause of chronic pain, disability and reduced mobility. Exercise-based physiotherapy is one of the most effective non-surgical treatments, but many people find it difficult to continue their exercises independently at home. As healthcare services across the UK face increasing demand and move towards more community-based and preventative models of care, technologies such as SPIN-VR could offer an additional way to support people to manage their condition.

SPIN-VR, developed by the SPIN Research Group at the School of Healthcare Sciences, combines lightweight motion sensors with exercise games played on a laptop. The system measures how people perform their exercises, provides real-time feedback, and automatically adjusts the difficulty to match their abilities and progress over time. This allows each rehabilitation programme to be personalised to the user, rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach.

The exercises mirror everyday functional movements, such as stepping, standing from a chair and shifting weight, but are delivered through interactive games designed to make the experience more engaging than a traditional exercise sheet.

A small-scale clinical trial of the system, conducted in partnership with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, recruited 50 people with knee osteoarthritis. The study explored whether SPIN-VR could be used at home over 12 weeks, compared with standard NHS physiotherapy care, and whether a larger trial of the approach would be practical.

The system was well received, with participants reporting that the interactive games helped them maintain regular exercise routines. One participant said:

"That's now established a firm routine for me."

Participants also valued being able to see their movements on screen, helping them feel confident they were exercising correctly. Others highlighted the convenience of completing their rehabilitation at home without needing to travel.

The findings suggest that digital technologies such as SPIN-VR may offer an additional way to support people with long-term conditions to remain active and engaged with their physiotherapy at home, alongside conventional physiotherapy services as needed. The study also demonstrated that participants from a range of backgrounds were able to use the system successfully in their own homes.

Dr Mohammad Al-Amri, who leads the SPIN Research Group and served as Principal Investigator for the study, said:

"It was encouraging to see how successfully participants incorporated SPIN-VR into their everyday lives and how positively they responded to the technology. Studies such as this help us better understand how digital technologies can support rehabilitation, complement existing models of care, and improve access to physiotherapy. The insights gained from participants will play an important role in shaping the next phase of our research."

Professor Kate Button, Clinical Lead for the study, added:

"This study is a step change in how we can support people with their physiotherapy in their own homes. We can use technology to personalise treatment, ensure exercises are performed safely, and create a more engaging and enjoyable rehabilitation experience."

The study protocol has been published in BMJ Open, and the full trial results are currently being prepared for publication.

Join the SPIN-VR webinar

Want to learn more about how virtual reality is being used to support rehabilitation at home?

Join the SPIN Research Group for a free online webinar on 12 November 2026 at 6pm, where the team behind SPIN-VR will share the story of how the technology was developed and tested with people living with knee osteoarthritis.

Dr Al-Amri will be joined by Rose Evans, the NHS physiotherapist who delivered the programme as part of the study, and a participant who used SPIN-VR at home. Together, they will provide unique perspectives on the project, from designing and delivering the intervention to experiencing it firsthand as a patient.

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear directly about the challenges and successes of home-based rehabilitation, how the technology was used in practice, and what participants thought about incorporating SPIN-VR into their daily lives.

The event is open to anyone interested in digital health, rehabilitation, physiotherapy or living with knee osteoarthritis.

Registration link: SPIN-VR WEBINAR: How VR Physiotherapy is Changing Knee Osteoarthritis Rehabilitation

Note: The research was funded by Versus Arthritis (Grant number 22967).