Researchers test VR ping-pong to make balance rehab less boring

It is said that balance rehab exercises can feel like watching paint dry. But what if your recovery routine swapped out the monotony for a few rounds of virtual ping-pong? That's exactly what a team of researchers in Australia is exploring. Led by PhD candidate Achintha Abayasiri from the University of Queensland, the study tests whether a VR table tennis game could make balance rehabilitation not just more engaging but also more effective.

As Dr. Nilufar (Nell) Baghaei, a senior lecturer involved in the project, put it: "This project shows the potential of VR to reduce the burden on physical therapists and make balance exercises more engaging, enjoyable and effective for participants."

How does it work?

Picture this: you're standing on a stationary treadmill, not walking, just trying to keep your balance. Under your feet? Force plates that track every wobble and shift. On your face? A VR headset that drops you into a game of table tennis.

Here's the kicker:

• The virtual paddle doesn't quite match where your hand actually is — it's purposely off-kilter.
• That means you're constantly adjusting your posture, your stance, your reactions — without even thinking about it.
• You end up working your balance muscles but through play instead of repetition.

As Abayasiri explains: "The VR game is acting like a distraction to the actual exercise, with the potential to challenge and rehabilitate the balance of a range of populations."

Why does it matter?

Sticking with rehab can be hard — tedious routines, slow progress, and let's be honest, a whole lot of boredom. But VR could change that game entirely.

Here's why it matters:

• Better engagement: When rehab feels like fun, people are less likely to give up halfway through.
• Lower drop-out rates: Traditional exercises get old fast. A game keeps things fresh.
• Fewer resources needed: No fancy machines or constant therapist supervision. Just a headset and the game.
• Broad reach: Young or old, stroke survivors or seniors with age-related decline — the game adapts.

Abayasiri nailed the point home: "They're more engaging and have the potential to complement the repetitive exercises traditionally prescribed by physical therapists."

The context

Balance rehab is a critical part of recovery for folks who've had strokes, injuries, or just the wear and tear of aging. The trouble is, it's often repetitive and uninspiring — exactly the kind of thing people skip.

This study pulled in both younger VR-savvy participants and older adults between 65 and 84. Turns out, both age groups found the virtual ping-pong experience not only effective, but enjoyable. And crucially, motion sickness — often a deal-breaker in VR — wasn't an issue for most.

Abayasiri and the team now plan to move beyond standing still. Next stop? VR-based rehab for walking on a treadmill.

If it works, balance training could go from chore to challenge — and just maybe, from skipped to scheduled.