How is VR used in healthcare? 7 practical uses of virtual reality in the medical field

Virtual reality (VR) is making a big impact in healthcare. What once felt like science fiction is now part of everyday life in hospitals, clinics, and medical schools. From training future doctors to helping patients manage pain and recover from injuries, the uses of virtual reality in medicine are growing quickly.

Unlike augmented reality, which adds digital layers to the real world, VR creates a fully immersive digital environment. With headsets, gloves, and motion controllers, medical professionals can step into realistic simulations and rehearse procedures. Another exciting area is the use of virtual reality in medical education, where students can safely explore anatomy, practice procedures, or respond to emergencies without any real-world risk.

In this article, we’ll look at how VR is used in healthcare today, highlighting practical examples. Let’s dive into how this powerful VR technology is making a real difference.

Virtual reality in medicine: what the numbers say

In 2023, the virtual reality healthcare market was valued at $3.12 billion, and it’s expected to rise to $46.37 billion by 2032, totalling a 35.1% annual growth rate, according to Fortune Business Insights.

This tells us that VR isn’t just a passing trend. It’s already being used across the healthcare field for training medical professionals, simulating surgeries, managing pain, supporting rehabilitation, and more.

Grand View Research paints a similar picture. They estimate the broader AR/VR healthcare market reached $3.4 billion in 2023 and will grow at 16.8% annually through 2030. This surge is fueled by advancements in immersive tech, increased adoption of digital tools, and the growing recognition of how virtual reality can be used in healthcare.

7 practical uses of virtual reality in medicine

Now that we’ve seen how fast this space is growing, let’s take a look at seven real-world VR examples that show its impact.

1. Surgical training and simulation

VR provides a risk-free environment, making it a vital component in the future of surgical training, allowing students to hone skills and master complex procedures. Instead of practicing on cadavers, surgeons can now step into a fully immersive digital operating room and simulate real surgeries with detailed visuals.

With its ability to provide hands-on practice in a realistic, controlled setting, VR is proving to be a powerful tool for safer surgeries and better patient outcomes. It helps healthcare professionals refine their techniques, build dexterity, and gain confidence without the burden of risk.

Case study: VR in minimally invasive surgery training

A great example of virtual reality uses in medicine is the VR arthroscopic wrist simulator developed by VOKA. Wrist arthroscopy is a delicate, minimally invasive surgery that fixes joint problems in the wrist. It’s a tricky area because of the many small bones and tissues. VOKA’s simulator uses highly detailed 3D models of the wrist, allowing surgeons to practice every step, from placing surgical tools to navigating inside the joint. The system even provides haptic feedback, so trainees can feel resistance like during real surgery.

Built with input from expert orthopedic surgeons, the simulator focuses on the hardest parts of wrist surgery and helps users gradually improve through progressive training modules. It also gives real-time feedback so trainees can track their progress and sharpen their skills before ever working on a real patient.

2. Pain management and therapeutic distraction

Virtual reality is becoming a popular drug-free way to manage pain. Whether it's a mother in labor visualizing tranquil landscapes or a burn patient immersed in a snowy VR world, the brain interprets pain as less severe because it’s occupied elsewhere. This effect is known as distraction-induced analgesia, and studies show it can significantly reduce pain ratings, sometimes rivaling opioids in short-term effectiveness.

When patients are absorbed in a VR experience, their brain’s attentional resources are diverted. Instead of fixating on pain, they're engaged in visual, auditory, and even interactive stimuli. This shift reduces activity in pain-related brain regions like the somatosensory cortex and anterior cingulate cortex, both heavily involved in processing the intensity and emotional weight of pain.

For people dealing with long-term pain, VR programs like Pain Care Labs’ distraction therapy offer interactive experiences that help patients relax and cope better with their discomfort. Crucially, this isn’t just a placebo or novelty. It’s grounded in cognitive neuroscience and is being validated across clinical contexts, from acute trauma care to chronic pain therapy.

Case study: VR for burn pain relief

Developed at the University of Washington's Human Interface Technology Lab, SnowWorld is a VR game specifically designed to distract burn patients during wound care. Patients navigate a snowy canyon while throwing snowballs at snowmen and penguins.

Studies have shown significant reductions in pain ratings during burn dressing changes when patients use SnowWorld. While initially designed for adults, it's also been used successfully with pediatric burn patients.

3. Physical therapy and rehabilitation

Imagine playing a game that’s actually helping you build strength and improve your balance. Sounds way more fun than regular therapeutic exercises, right? That’s how VR is giving physical therapy a fresh, exciting boost. It turns rehab into an engaging experience, keeping patients motivated and involved.

With VR, you can get real-time feedback as you move. This approach is especially great for people with neurological or orthopedic conditions, where traditional therapy can sometimes feel slow or boring.

For neurological patients, VR exercises can help improve both movement and brain function. And for those with orthopedic issues, VR can create realistic scenarios that help improve balance, coordination, and flexibility.

Case study: VR-assisted stroke rehabilitation

MindMaze offers a VR-based rehabilitation platform called MindMotionPRO. It uses motion capture and gamified exercises to help stroke patients regain motor function in their upper and lower limbs.

Clinicians can customize the therapy based on individual patient needs. MindMaze has been used in various rehabilitation centers and has shown promising results in improving motor function, balance, and cognitive skills after stroke. They have published clinical studies demonstrating the effectiveness of their platform.

4. Mental health treatment and exposure therapy

In the field of mental health, VR offers innovative approaches to addressing phobias, PTSD, and anxiety disorders. Simulating scenarios that trigger these conditions, VR enables gradual exposure therapy in a safe and controlled environment.

For instance, a patient with a fear of flying can be virtually placed in an airplane, progressing from sitting on the tarmac to experiencing a takeoff, all under the therapist’s guidance. Similarly, for individuals with PTSD, VR recreates scenarios that allow patients to process trauma gradually.

Case study: VR in psychosis therapy

A standout example of VR in mental health is gameChangeVR, a virtual reality-based therapy designed to support people with psychosis who struggle with social isolation. Developed by Oxford VR, a spin-out from the University of Oxford’s Psychiatry Department, this therapy places users in realistic social environments, like riding a bus or going to a shop. It helps them slowly face everyday situations that might otherwise cause anxiety or distress.

Therapists can tailor the experiences to individual patient needs and monitor progress remotely. The solution has undergone clinical trials and showed promising results in reducing symptoms of psychosis and improving social functioning.

5. Medical education and anatomy visualization

Learning human anatomy has always been a challenge. Since 2D images and textbooks can be limiting and cadavers are not always available, virtual reality solutions become invaluable. They bring anatomy to life by creating fully immersive, 3D environments where students can explore the body from every angle. They can walk around digital models, zoom in and out of specific organs, peel back muscle layers, and all without stepping into a physical lab.

Case study: virtual anatomy labs for medical students

VR platforms like Dissection Master XR provide detailed, lifelike visuals and allow learners to repeat lessons as many times as needed. It displays the human body in layers, from muscles and bones to blood vessels and internal organs. Students can interact with thousands of anatomical structures, enlarge them to life-size, and “dive in” to examine even the smallest details.

What makes this tool especially powerful is its flexibility: lessons can be repeated as many times as needed, and educators can create custom teaching modules, record sessions, and build a full library of VR anatomy content. This kind of immersive, repeatable, and customizable experience represents how virtual reality is used in medical education to make learning anatomy faster and more effective.

6. Preoperative planning and patient consultation

A surgeon stepping into a virtual operating room before the actual surgery and exploring a patient's condition is a new reality in preoperative planning. It allows surgeons to visualize and practice complex procedures in a fully immersive environment and use interactive models of the specific patient's anatomy. This helps them anticipate challenges, refine techniques, and ultimately, improve the outcome for the patient.

VR also benefits patients. Instead of trying to understand confusing medical terms, they can take a virtual tour of their own procedure. This helps them see what to expect, reduces anxiety, and streamlines informed consent.

Case study: VR in cardiac surgery planning

At the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, surgeons used VR to plan complex heart surgeries. They converted patients' CT scans into 3D VR models, allowing them to explore and interact with the patient's heart in virtual reality before the actual operation.

The surgeons found that this immersive experience let them clearly understand the heart's intricate structure and choose the best surgical approach. Such detailed virtual planning helped to avoid complications during surgery, ultimately benefiting the patient. Thus, surgeons confirmed that VR added significant value to their pre-operative planning.

7. Remote healthcare and telemedicine

Good communication is a key part of quality healthcare, but it’s not always easy to teach. Medical professionals need to explain complex information clearly, show empathy, and respond to a wide range of emotions while staying calm under pressure.

Virtual reality lets students and professionals rehearse patient interactions in realistic, low-stress environments. They can practice breaking bad news, discussing treatment options, or responding to anxious patients without real-world consequences.

Case study: VR in patient communication simulations

Oxford Medical Simulation is another excellent example of how virtual reality is used in medicine. It’s a VR platform that creates realistic patient consultations and clinical scenarios. Through this tool, users can talk directly with virtual patients, ask questions, gather information, and make medical decisions in real time.

By practicing in these lifelike virtual environments, healthcare professionals build confidence, refine their bedside manner, and sharpen their diagnostic abilities long before they meet actual patients. This kind of hands-on training helps reduce stress and improve the quality of care.

Advantages and challenges of VR in medical practice

Virtual reality is transforming healthcare by offering new ways to train professionals, improve patient care, and streamline procedures. However, like any emerging technology, VR also comes with its own set of challenges. The tables below explore both the advantages and the considerations of integrating VR into modern medical practice.

Benefits of integrating VR into medical practice

Challenges and considerations in VR implementation

Final thoughts on virtual reality use in healthcare

VR is set to play a lasting role in the future of medicine. From medical education and surgical training to patient rehabilitation and communication, the uses of virtual reality in medicine are proving both practical and powerful. As technology continues to evolve, we can expect even more innovative applications that improve care, reduce risk, and expand access across the medical field. With strategic implementation and a focus on addressing current challenges, VR can create a more inclusive, efficient, and patient-centric healthcare system, benefiting practitioners and patients alike.

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