10 Virtual reality and augmented reality for medical research and training
Sojitra Preet, Manoj Kumar · 2025
This chapter explores the growing role of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) in medical research and training, emphasizing their transformative impact on modern healthcare. VR and AR technologies create immersive and interactive environments that significantly enhance medical education, surgical training, rehabilitation, and patient care. Surgeons can practice complex procedures in risk-free virtual environments, while AR provides real-time guidance during surgeries, improving precision and reducing errors. VR is also used in psychological therapy, rehabilitation, and pain management, offering non-invasive and patient-centred care options. Additionally, these technologies facilitate remote consultations and telemedicine, making healthcare more accessible, especially in underserved areas. The document also examines the challenges of implementing VR and AR in healthcare, including cost, accessibility, and ethical concerns, and discusses future trends such as the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and 5G to further advance medical applications. This paper concludes that VR and AR have the potential to revolutionize healthcare, enhancing both patient outcomes and medical training while reshaping medical research and innovation.