Ringling College of Art and Design proudly served as the host site for the inaugural Virtual Reality in Sports Medicine and Exercise Science Symposium, held June 5 and 6, 2025, and presented by the International Virtual Reality Healthcare Association (IVRHA). This inaugural event brought together global thought leaders in healthcare, athletics, technology, and academia to explore how immersive technologies such as virtual and augmented reality transform sports performance, rehabilitation, and cognitive health.
The symposium featured a diverse mix of clinical research, elite sports training, and design innovation, with presentations spanning football, baseball, cricket, tennis, track and field, fencing, and martial arts. These sessions emphasized the expanding role of immersive tools across both high-performance athletics and general wellness applications.
Clinical and Sports Vision Highlights
One of the most compelling sessions focused on professional baseball and the Tampa Bay Rays, featuring insights from both a vision performance expert and Dr. Vishnu Sarpeshkar, Coordinator of Vision Science within the Rays’ Baseball Performance Science team. He shared strategies for enhancing performance and decision making using immersive tools such as Win Reality (a product touched by a Ringling alum). Dr. Sarpeshkar emphasized the need for more evidence-based evaluation of these platforms. The session highlighted how VR is being applied not just for reaction time and training, but also for assessing neurocognitive readiness.
Another standout presentation came from Dr. Glenn Gaston, Chief of Hand Surgery at Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute, who shared advances in pain management and rehabilitation for amputees. His work demonstrated how virtual reality is being used to support phantom limb therapy to reduce pain symptoms, pre- and post-operative care, and patient motivation throughout recovery.
Leading Academic Institutions Included:
- Arizona State University with research on XR and machine learning in martial arts
- University of New Hampshire with studies in VR-based balance testing and cognitive-motor interference
- MIT.nano Immersion Lab with XR-enhanced fencing and neuromotor tracking
- Kessler Foundation with VR cycling and cognition studies for individuals with multiple sclerosis and traumatic brain injury
Medical and Athletic Performance Partners:
- David Kupping (Australia) on tennis injury prevention using VR-enhanced warm-up routines, which could be helpful to pickleball enthusiasts
- NFL Alumni Association CEO Brad Edwards shared insights from his NFL career and highlighted the role of VR in quarterback Jayden Daniels’ breakout season
- XRWorkout with ADHD-focused VR fitness development and strategies for FDA approval
- Dr. Richard S. Hart on Formula 1 surgery, stress inoculation, and high-performance team training
Looking Ahead
The 2025 symposium marked a culminating moment in the adoption of immersive tools in elite sports training and clinical care. From injury prevention and pain management to cognitive readiness and mental wellness, the event showcased the potential of immersive technology to support healthier, more resilient individuals across many fields.
“This symposium showcased exactly why immersive design is no longer niche; it is essential,” said Martin Murphy, department head of Virtual Reality Development and Game Art at Ringling College.
“Our students are entering a workforce where the ability to build interactive, spatial experiences applies not only to entertainment but also to healthcare, sports, and human performance. Events like this open the door for collaboration and highlight the growing demand for creative technologists who can turn real-world challenges into immersive solutions.”
Ringling College is honored to support this growing area of research and looks forward to supporting next year’s Virtual Reality in Sports Medicine and Exercise Science Symposium.
For more information, visit the IVRHA website.
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