Today we’re interviewing Alexis, the psychomotor therapist our team who is working toward his certification solution an expert. His expertise in psychomotor therapy is helping us develop our virtual reality solution .

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Hi Alexis, can you tell us a little about yourself? What’s your background, and what’s your role at Lumeen?

Hello, I am psychomotor therapist in France and am currently pursuing the International Master’s Degree in Psychomotricity at the University of Murcia through the Higher Institute of Psychomotor Rehabilitation (ISRP) to earn the title of expert in psychomotricity under European standards. I enjoy discovering and exploring a wide range of fields, particularly new technologies, which hold such promise with their humanistic and optimistic approach. 

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I joined Lumeen in October 2019 to help develop and coordinate R&D (Research and Development), drawing on my expertise in gerontology and psychomotor therapy. I am involved in developing therapeutic prototypes that use virtual reality in setting up user-centered co-design projects involving patients and caregivers and in establishing scientific projects with hospital and university research teams such as the Hospices Civils de Lyon, the University of Paris, the Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, and the Gérontopôle Île-de-France.

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As a psychomotor therapist, what motivates you to contribute to Lumeen's growth?

These days, e-health is a rapidly growing field, and while I have stepped away from clinical practice for a while, it is so that I can better contribute to the development of the therapeutic tools of tomorrow, which will benefit many people in the near future. Concepts in psychomotor therapy, although rarely represented in the world of health innovation, seem to me essential to the realization of such projects that integrate the body and the mind. virtual reality a unique psychophysical experience that has yet to be fully understood and described. For me, taking part in clinical research to better understand its effects on health is particularly exciting, as is co-designing caregivers therapeutic spaces of tomorrow with elderly people and their caregivers . Furthermore, working in a corporate setting, as I do, reinforces my belief that there is a clear benefit for psychomotor therapists and other caregivers to caregivers this broad field of practice, where their skills are both useful and in demand.

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In your opinion, what is the potential of virtual reality for the elderly people

I would say that its potential is multifaceted due to its range of applications. virtual reality used just as effectively for assessment, prevention (across its full spectrum), and treatment. Regardless of the care setting, the medical indication, or the treatment modalities, there is a place for virtual reality as the tools are properly designed to align with real-world conditions.

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The potential of virtual reality also virtual reality in the fact that it expands the possibilities for non-pharmacological interventions, which are in such high demand, particularly as highlighted by the HAS (2011). Furthermore, the Bourquin-Aquino report (2019) recently identified a need to integrate new technologies to support healthy aging, just as the French Hospital Federation (FHF) and the French Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology (SFGG) are calling on public authorities to “massively” develop new technologies for the elderly. From my perspective, virtual reality an appealing therapeutic tool because it enables forms of care that were previously inconceivable: once we embrace its possibilities, we gain access to numerous new means of support. Finally, how can we fail to mention the ecological power of virtual reality—the fundamental basis of its potential, linked to the effect of contextualization and the sense of presence during immersion—which, according to the already extensive body of literature, can be so beneficial to psychological and psychomotor functions? This is made possible in particular by the faithful—albeit still incomplete—reproduction of sensorimotor interactions with the digital (or digitized) world. But this topic alone deserves a dedicated article—perhaps in a future piece…!

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Do you think virtual reality will become a widely used tool among psychomotor therapists?

When designing therapeutic content that uses virtual reality, it’s not just a matter of conceiving an experience and bringing it to life. Above all, it’s essential to consider the format, take into account the real-world needs on the ground, and reflect on the role—if any—that such a tool might play within an institution or organization. For example, the goal is not to replace current therapeutic methods with a digital tool that simply replicates the same actions on a screen; rather, it is to offer caregivers of providing care that prioritize professional autonomy, the therapeutic relationship, and each individual’s unique role. This is achieved by designing tools that are easy to use, flexible, and tailored to specific needs, so they can adapt to the varied and multifaceted situations encountered in care settings. 

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If designers take these requirements into account, then I see no reason why virtual reality become widespread among psychomotor therapists, just as it has among other caregivers. In this way, I believe that virtual reality well into psychomotor practice because it places the patient at the heart of the therapeutic experience, which is generally revitalized by a unique pleasure that is intrinsic to the medium. From a clinical perspective, Laurent Bonnotte’s series “Des lendemains hybrides,” available on the guide-psycho.com website, highlights some of the profound questions raised by virtual reality psychomotor therapy.

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Finally, technology is evolving rapidly. Headsets becoming lighter, more powerful, and less expensive, making them easier to use. New features are emerging, such as hand tracking, which allows users to interact with the digital world using their own bodies—at least in part—(see video below).

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1DmFKiQCvk

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Video credit: Road to VR

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There are therefore likely many clinical applications yet to be discovered, both in the fields of psychotherapy and rehabilitation. When we experience—or observe—the effects of virtual reality ourselves or others, it would be a shame to pass it by without taking advantage of it. The real question, then, is this: caregivers psychomotor therapists and other caregivers ready to give it a try?

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➡️ If you're interested in virtual reality and would like to contribute to its development or to clinical research projects, please contact us atrecherche@lumeen.com

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References:

Bourquin, M. & Aquino, J.-P. (2019). Digital and Technological Innovations in Facilities and Services for elderly people. https://www.france-silvereco.fr/plugin-documentation/doc/44.pdf

French National Authority for Health. (2011). Development of Validated Non-Pharmacological Treatments. https://www.has-sante.fr/upload/docs/application/pdf/2011-06/developpement_de_la_prescription_de_therapeutiques_non_medicamenteuses_rapport.pdf

Road to VR. (2018). Oculus Hand-tracking Research [ video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1DmFKiQCvk