Virtual reality and a "real-life workout" will meet at the Ottawa Hospital in the near future. The goal: to give soldiers with mental injuries from the battlefield recover faster and more efficiently than before.
The Netherlands-developed system, dubbed CAREN, is a form of cyber therapy, offering soliders with post-tramautic stress disorder a chance to safely relive the environments that initially caused them stress. It could range from a forest walk to a ship in the ocean.
"It's paramount. Its unparalled. If we did not have this centre we would not be making the gains that we are," said Cpl. Andrew Knisley, who lost a leg in Afghanistan. He was attending the official opening of the centre on Thursday.
Public will also get access
The military will fork out $2.5 million for the system, with the Ottawa hospital fundraising $700,000 more in partnership with the Sens Alumni.
The public will also have access to this technology 60 per cent of the time, notes Dr. Susan Dojeiji, head of the rehab operation at the hospital.
"This is just thrilling. This is beyond exciting," she says. "It means that patients with balance problems or in wheelchairs or any of the things we treat will actually benefit from this system. "
