Perceptions of Sports Physical Therapists on the Use of Virtual Reality for Sports Injury Rehabilitation: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

The study aimed to explore the perceived knowledge of Sports Physical Therapists (SPTs) in the Philippines on virtual reality-based rehabilitation for athletes recovering from sports-related injuries. It also described their awareness of integrating virtual reality (VR) into rehabilitating sports-related injuries technology.

This dataset contains the interview questions, transcription & translation of the 2 FGDs conducted, and the data extraction table that was created as part of the thematic analysis process of the study. The Thematic analysis yielded four themes: (1) perceived potential and benefits of VR in sports rehabilitation, (2) challenges and considerations for VR implementation, (3) the role of PT in the VR era, and (4) cultural and contextual factors affecting VR use. Participants perceived VR as a promising tool for sports rehabilitation, including enhanced motivation, engagement, and real-time feedback. However, participants raised concerns regarding accessibility, cost, and the need for therapist supervision. The role of physical therapists was seen as evolving, requiring adaptation to new technologies. Cultural and contextual factors, such as resource availability and patient readiness, influenced VR adoption.

Findings from this study may be used as a jumpstart for further research on the emerging field of VR use for sports rehabilitation.