Why use rehabilitation software with video games?
Rehabilitation software with specific video games for physiotherapy offers several advantages over standard video games frequently used in therapy sessions. Here are some of the main differences and contributions offered by professional software:
1. Rehabilitation-focused design
- Clear Therapeutic Goals: Physiotherapy-specific video games are designed with the explicit purpose of addressing therapeutic goals, such as improving mobility, strength, balance or coordination. In contrast, standard video games are designed primarily for entertainment and do not necessarily promote movements that benefit physical recovery.
- Evidence-Based Exercises: These games are often based on scientific studies and clinical experience, ensuring that the exercises and movements included are effective for the rehabilitation of certain medical conditions.
2. Customisation and Adaptation
- Individualised settings: Physiotherapy games allow for specific adjustments in difficulty, range of motion, and pace, adapting to the patient’s individual needs and abilities. Standard video games offer less customisation possibilities in this regard.
- Therapeutic Progression: These games are designed to follow a logical progression according to the patient’s progress, facilitating a gradual increase in difficulty that aligns with physical improvement.
3. Real-time Monitoring and Feedback
- Continuous Assessment: Physiotherapy-specific video games often include monitoring systems that record the patient’s performance in real time, providing immediate feedback on movement quality and treatment progress.
- Data for Professionals: These games allow the collection of detailed data that can be reviewed by physiotherapists to adjust the treatment plan according to the patient’s evolution. This is not common in standard video games.
4. Safety and Injury Prevention
- Controlled Movements: Physiotherapy video games are designed to promote safe and effective movements, reducing the risk of injury. In contrast, standard video games may include movements or actions that are not recommended or may be harmful to certain patients.
- Ergonomics: Most of these games consider the ergonomics of the user, designing activities in such a way as to avoid undue posture or strain that could cause harm.
5. Focus on Therapeutic Motivation
- Therapeutic Gamification: Incorporate gamification elements specifically designed to maintain patient motivation throughout treatment, such as rewards for meeting therapeutic goals.
- Inclusive Design: These games are often designed to be accessible to people with various disabilities, ensuring that patients with severe physical limitations can fully participate in the activities.
6. Integration in Rehabilitation Protocols
- Complementarity with Treatments: Physiotherapy-specific video games are designed to be integrated within broader treatment protocols, functioning as an extension or complement to traditional physiotherapy sessions.
- Controlled and Programmed Use: Designed for therapeutic use, these games can be programmed for controlled sessions of time and activity, aligned with the guidelines set by a physiotherapist.
7. Measurable Results and Objectives
- Measurement Objectivity: Allow objective measurements of patient progress, such as range of motion, speed, applied force, etc. Standard video games are not designed to perform these measurements and therefore cannot provide clinically useful data.
- Improved Adherence: By being aligned with rehabilitation goals and being able to show progress in a clear and measurable way, these video games can improve patient adherence to treatment.
In summary, physiotherapy-specific video games are designed to maximise therapeutic benefits, offer personalisation, and ensure patient safety, aspects that standard video games cannot guarantee due to their primary focus on entertainment.
