From Fall Prevention to Elite Sports: Unique European VR Lab Elevates Rehabilitation to the Next Level
The Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences at UHasselt proudly presents its MOVElab—a high-tech research lab housed in a 300-degree dome, featuring a central motion platform. “Inside the dome, we can immerse test subjects—ranging from patients to elite athletes—in a virtual environment, after which we simulate disturbances like falls or balance issues using our platform. Every movement or reaction of the test subject is meticulously analyzed with infrared cameras to develop new rehabilitation techniques,” says coordinator Prof. Dr. Pieter Meyns. The MOVElab is unique on the European mainland; globally, there are only nine similar installations.
From research into fall prevention for the elderly to virtual training camps for children with motor impairments, and from rehabilitation for elite athletes and people with chronic conditions to the development of new running shoes or prosthetics—the possibilities in the MOVElab are endless. “The MOVElab is the most advanced biomechanical motion laboratory in the world,” says Prof. Dr. Pieter Meyns. “The lab is equipped with a gigantic dome that allows you to literally step into a lifelike virtual world. It features a motion platform capable of moving in all directions, as well as numerous infrared cameras to analyze every movement and behavior of the test subject in detail.”
Unique on the European Mainland
The MOVElab is unique on the European mainland, and only nine similar installations exist worldwide. The motion lab cost €1.6 million and is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (€400,000), Flanders through the Innovation and Enterprise Fund (€400,000), and UHasselt as a project partner.
“This unique motion lab once again confirms our strong position in innovation and strengthens our image as a knowledge region and European innovation leader,” says Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele. “Flanders is heavily investing in research at various knowledge institutions. Innovative approaches like this are crucial in addressing our societal challenges.”
“MOVElab is a bold and tangible realization of the SALKturbo strategy, which we are able to implement thanks to support from Europe and Flanders. This high-tech motion lab is not only a breakthrough for rehabilitation research but also a catalyst for innovation in the health and sports sectors. The combination of virtual reality and biomechanical analysis opens new doors for patients, athletes, and companies. This is exactly the kind of progress we aim to foster at the Health Campus Limburg DC: cutting-edge research with real impact on society,” says Tom Vandeput, Provincial Deputy for Economy and Chair of POM Limburg.
Fall Prevention
One of the first studies to start at MOVElab focuses on teaching elderly people skills to resist falling. “For older adults, a fall can truly mark the beginning of a downward spiral. That’s why, together with Maastricht University, we’re researching how to improve fall resistance in people aged 65 and older using VR simulations,” says Prof. Meyns. “We train them to anticipate obstacles, respond to minor disturbances like bumping into something, and handle major balance disruptions that throw them completely off. Because test subjects wear a harness, we can safely simulate all these disturbances on the motion platform inside the VR dome. The insights we gain from this will be translated into accessible, affordable training programs for physiotherapists and caregivers.”
Developing Innovations
Other research projects are also starting up in the MOVElab, focusing on rehabilitation techniques for people recovering from a stroke, individuals with MS, children with the developmental disorder DCD, and people with balance disorders. In addition, researchers are exploring partnerships with companies to develop new applications and products in the MOVElab. “Our platform can be used not only for developing new therapies or training programs, but also to test innovative products such as motion sensors or new prosthetics,” says Dr. Yvette Kerkum, business developer for valorization within the Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences.
A Gem for Health Campus Limburg DC
“For our faculty, the arrival of the MOVElab is a dream come true. This is truly a gem in terms of high-level research infrastructure, putting our work on the European and global map. And our ambitions go beyond rehabilitation innovations alone. We aim to make MOVElab a dynamic hub where science and technology reinforce one another. This infrastructure will be a major asset to Health Campus Limburg DC,” concludes Prof. Dr. Raf Meesen, Dean of the Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences.
