Patient Motivation: The role of health data in physical and occupational therapy
Patients often experience multiple side effects as a result of a stroke or traumatic brain injury (TBI). In addition to the physical limitations, the health event can alter a patient´s life forever.
That realization can be hard to accept. Not surprisingly, many post-stroke patients struggle emotionally with problems like low self-esteem and lack of hope. They can also feel lethargic and unmotivated. A very high percentage of stroke survivors faces mental health crises, like depression and anxiety.
With these barriers in mind, how can physical and occupational therapists motivate their patients to keep moving forward in their recovery?
Health Data is the answer
Data is increasingly becoming the heart of everything we do — and healthcare is no different. Objective data from rehabilitation technology can help doctors and therapists to adapt the therapies according to the patients progress.
Numbers foster motivation and can generate hope in patients. By seeing daily or weekly improvements, patients tend to perform more exercise repetitions and exert more effort.
All Tyromotion devices include TyroS, a sophisticated therapeutic software developed by and together with therapists. TyroS uses gamification and data to help patients in the following ways:
1. Make Therapy Fun and Engaging
Games like Pac-Man and Asteroids have remained popular for a reason. Gaming harnesses our intrinsic desire to perform and reach higher goals. Competition, even with oneself, can be a critical motivator, and it fits perfectly into the rehabilitation environment.
Gamification of therapy takes otherwise dull and mundane tasks and makes them fun and engaging. For instance, patients are encouraged when they receive positive feedback or when they beat their own high score.
In addition to the instant feedback of gaming, therapists can share a more global picture of progress. Daily, weekly or monthly analytic reports help patients further visualize their achievements.
Since advanced rehabilitation technology is software-based, grading treatment plans is simple. Therapists can start with easier exercises and develop personalized programs based on patient ability and progress.
These devices also allow patients to move through therapy at their own speed. When a patient is ready, the therapist can increase the difficulty of each task to fit the client’s individual needs. Grading can also help the therapists to ‘push’ patients on by increasing the difficulty.
2. Visualize Progress
Re-learning to walk or performing certain daily tasks is often a slow and frustrating process. That’s why physical and occupational therapists need every tool possible to keep patients engaged. In addition to the gamification of therapy, sensor-based devices can provide helpful feedback that can inspire patients.
Sensor technology acquires patient information that is not necessarily visible to the naked eye. Therapists can draw from this data to plan and evaluate the therapy process.
By sharing numbers and infographics, practitioners can better communicate with patients. These snapshots of incremental progress help patients recognize what they can’t see in real-time. This can give hope when hope feels lost and inspires patients to persevere.
Whether through a graph, a bar chart or numbers alone, helping people visualize their progress can be a powerful motivator. According to a study, “a patient’s perception of therapy, in terms of its relevance to daily needs, the perceived potential to reduce disability and improve quality of life play a role in motivation.”
3. Relearn Activities of Daily Live (ADLs)
Sensor-based technology is helping patients of varying impairments relearn the so-called activities of daily living like dressing or feeding. Tyromotion’s sensor-enabled devices, including Pablo , Pablo Lower Extremity and Tymo, provide meaningful data that measures:
- Overall movement
- Limb flexion and extension
- Exerted force
- Gait parameters
- Asymmetries in gait patterns
- Stability and coordination
Neurological events such as stroke or traumatic brain injury can take away a great deal from the affected person. Data and gamification can help to increase motivation and redirect focus in a positive way.
Progress, whether slow and steady or rapid, is a step forward in recovery. Data offers objective markers that can provide hope and inspiration to patients as well as ultimately lead to better outcomes.
Sources:
Emotional & Behavioral Effects of Stroke
Design strategies to improve patient motivation during robot-aided rehabilitation (2007)
