What Role Does Technology Play in Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapists frequently use standard rating scales namely the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) to assess gait, balance, and functional activities, but obtaining a precise assessment of balance and gait impairment is often challenging. Movement monitors worn by patients during functional balance and gait assessments, on the other hand, allow accurate assessment of balance and gait impairments to guide physiotherapists in rehabilitation. The presence of balance and gait measurements can precisely determine how and why functional performance is impaired. It also allows for quick biofeedback to patients, which can focus attention and enhance treatment efficacy.
Medical science is progressing at a rate extraordinary in history, thanks to advancements in technology. Every day, modern tech arises all over the world, opening up entirely new worlds for both patients and medical professionals. Every highly specialized field of medical science has made significant advances in recent years, with many more on the horizon.
Technological Advancements in Physiotherapy
As technology has progressed, so have our methods of utilizing it. Physical therapists have taken advantage of technological advancements to improve the way patients are treated in the healthcare industry. Physical therapy has used technology to make procedures more efficient, engaging, impressive, and fun, from gamification to virtual care.
The Performance Matrix
The Performance Matrix is one of the most significant and comprehensive progressions in physiotherapy (TPM). This is an accumulation of analytical software that recognizes your movement's weak points and high-risk areas, such as your back or joints. TPM entails performing approximately 15 movement tests to identify these points, the outcomes of which are immediately calculated. TPM is used to aid with treatment and rehabilitation as well as injury prevention. As a result, it has become popular with people who have suffered an injury and with pro athletes striving to enhance their performance.
Cloud Physio
Telerehab is a significant advancement in the healthcare sector. Patients who have access to care when they need it are more likely to see a physician if they need one and to fulfill their treatment plans. These potential benefits are also noticed in physiotherapy thanks to telerehabilitation services.
Many of these concerns can be alleviated with telerehab physiotherapy, which stimulates patients to complete their exercises. Having visited a therapist from the comfort of home prevents the need for patients to travel and makes them feel more at ease. Physical therapists can use the telemedicine platform to guide patients through the process, show them how to perform specific activities, observe to ensure the patient has been doing the exercises correctly, and prescribe an exercise program.
Electromyography Biofeedback Machines
The study of electrical activity in the muscles is known as electromyography. This is accomplished by using needle or surface electrodes to measure the speed and strength of signals transiting through the muscles. These can be used to assist in the diagnosis of nervous system disorders, such as myasthenia gravis as well as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. These machines have been used by professional physiotherapists for some time, but technological advancements have made biofeedback machines smaller and less expensive, allowing patients to have one at home. This can be helpful for people who are undergoing muscle retraining since it enables them to enhance their performance and avoid making mistakes when they are not with their physiotherapist.
VR
Although it's still a fairly new concept, virtual reality is opening up a plethora of interesting possibilities for a wide range of medical professionals. One of the most substantial advantages is the immersive nature of VR, which allows people in remote areas to exercise as if they were in a classroom full of people. It also aids in measuring their movements and keeping them on track. Furthermore, VR can make the exercises more enjoyable and fun, increasing the probability that patients will stick to their regimens. There are still a few areas where VR requires to advance, but it is anticipated to become very commonplace in the coming years.
The Impact of Future Technology on Physiotherapy
Technology is evolving, processing power is significantly increasing and shrinking, and it appears that Moore's Law is becoming more accurate and would not stop unless we have transistors the size of atoms. Consider what we thought was possible ten years ago, and then consider what will be possible in another decade. Could full-body PET scanners with instant diagnosis become a reality?
However, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are now widely accessible to nearly everyone, and the potential applications to treatment are obvious. The whimsical factor and engaging essence will ideally interact with those who dislike 'regular' exercise and allow those who lead sedentary lives towards becoming fitter and healthier. Specific disorders could be targeted as technology advances, adding a new dimension to home-based exercise. Areas like vestibular pathology, which suffers greatly from low participation, will undoubtedly benefit greatly. Physiotherapy has the potential to be at the forefront of the technological revolution.
Conclusion
We live in a world of rapid technological advances, and it is anticipated that a slew of new technologies will be introduced in the rehabilitation space. To defend the financial cost of new technologies, clinicians will need to conduct well-structured randomized clinical trials to determine the need for implementation. Certainly, the technologies described in this manuscript have shown promise in publication trials or are being tested in well-structured trials. This could help pave the way for other new technologies to avoid the allure of marketing hype and instead rely on evidence-based claims.