Levac’s research interests stem from her clinical practice experience as a pediatric physical therapist searching for rehabilitation strategies that effectively engage client participation and promote motor learning: namely, permanent, transferable and generalizable changes in motor skill capabilities. She is motivated by the potential of virtual reality (VR) and active video gaming systems to promote motor learning in pediatric and adult neurological populations. VR systems that motivate users to control games by means of movement and posture have been embraced within rehabilitation and appear to challenge user’s motor skills. Although these systems incorporate key motor learning principles known to be critical for rehabilitation (such as task-oriented training and multisensory feedback), we know very little about how therapists can use this technology to promote motor learning. Resources to support the integration of VR systems into clinical practice remain scarce.
