VIRTUAL REALITY AND AUGMENTED REALITY IN HEALTH SCIENCES EDUCATION

Abstract

Immersion technology's quick development has created revolutionary opportunities for physiotherapy education. To close the gap between academic understanding and clinical practice, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are increasingly being incorporated into health sciences curriculum. The theoretical foundations, technological infrastructure, and many applications of VR and AR in physiotherapy education—including neurological rehabilitation, orthopaedic evaluation, sports physiotherapy, and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation—are examined in this chapter. It assesses the educational advantages of immersive technologies, such as improved psychomotor skill development, better clinical reasoning, and more student engagement, using evidence-based literature. Critical analysis is done on issues including excessive implementation costs, inadequate faculty training, and accessibility challenges in settings with limited resources.Future curriculum development is examined in relation to emerging themes such as extended reality (XR) systems, metaverse-based rehabilitation, and artificial intelligence integration. Practical suggestions for faculty development, curricular integration, and the creation of simulation-based learning environments in physiotherapy programs are included in the chapter's conclusion.