Russia Uses Virtual Reality to Accelerate Athletes’ Recovery

VR platforms developed in Russia are helping injured hockey players and wrestlers regain their form while offering new insights into elite athletic performance.

In Russia, virtual reality is no longer confined to gaming. It’s gaining traction in medicine, education, architecture—and now, in professional sports. Scientists have found that VR training allows injured athletes to maintain their skills and even speed up the rehabilitation process.

A team of psychologists from Lomonosov Moscow State University has built specialized VR environments for hockey players, biathletes, and wrestlers. These digital training platforms let athletes practice safely while recovering from injuries. Simultaneously, researchers used the same platforms to study performance patterns in healthy professionals.

In one experiment, the team compared biathletes with numerous medals to their less-decorated peers. They discovered that top-tier athletes exhibit superior visual-motor control: minimal eye movements, longer gaze fixation on targets, and fewer blinks. These traits, researchers believe, give elite competitors a crucial edge during high-pressure events.