New technologies in physical therapy are constantly emerging, providing an ever-expanding array of treatment options for various conditions.
Physical therapists successfully incorporate apps, virtual reality, and other technology into their treatments, offering them new capabilities and providing patients with new options.
As new treatment approaches and technologies are developed to improve both diagnosis and therapy procedures, the field of physical therapy is continually changing.
Recent events have pushed the business in new directions, prompting physical therapists to revise their practices in a variety of ways. We’ve seen a lot of physical therapists use this strategy to help their patients get the most out of their treatment. Direct access to physical treatment in New York and other parts of the country, for example, is now accessible because of technological improvements.
Physical therapists are also looking into how these technologies might help their patients and businesses:
Apps for Mobile Devices
In the previous decade, smartphones and tablets have grown commonplace in our daily lives, and they are equally important for physical therapists. There are currently a lot of efficient physical therapy apps on the market, and the majority of practicing physical therapists have figured out how to incorporate mobile devices into their treatment plans and contacts with patients.
PTGenie, for example, is a physical therapy software aimed at individuals who require further instruction when conducting exercises at home. Others offer everything from common term definitions to useful orthopedic home diagnosis tools. Physical therapists are continually seeking new methods to better their practices by utilizing mobile devices and software.
Robotic Rehab
Physical therapists who work with individuals with cerebral palsy or who are recuperating from strokes are increasingly using robots. Physical therapy is typically crucial to their recovery, as it aids in the development of mobility, strength, comfort, and other factors.
Patients can accomplish much more exercise repetitions per session while using physical therapy robots. Robots can keep track of their progress and adjust their exercise speed automatically as needed.
Virtual Reality (VR)
Virtual reality is frequently linked with gaming and specialized applications, but physical therapists have effectively implemented VR and are discovering new applications. Virtual reality rehab allows patients to receive treatment in a completely immersive setting that is unlike any other.
CAREN, a revolutionary virtual reality system built exclusively for physical rehabilitation, aids the development of mobility and balance in the aged, disabled, and those with catastrophic injuries. This is a significant step forward for physical treatment, and it goes well beyond past virtual reality uses.
Microsoft Kinect for Physical Therapy
Microsoft’s Kinect is another typical gaming technology that has been used in physical therapy. Patients and physical therapists can communicate without having to be in the same room. Physical therapists may easily evaluate progress and performance, as well as check for proper form, using the Kinect camera. Patients can use this to supplement in-person consultations and ensure that their home exercise regimen is developing as planned.
Physical therapy will always be about genuine connections and interactions, but technology has the potential to open up new treatment options. Physical therapists can now deliver more accurate diagnoses and treat patients more effectively because of these and other recent breakthroughs. As new applications are identified, the value of developing technology in physical therapy will only expand.
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