Recovering or rehabbing from an injury used to be a chore in the past.You’d have to go to a physical therapist and go through a series of exercises or stretches. It would be a dull routine. That’s not the case now – there’s been so much innovation.
You’ve got so many new sources of technology to use to help you rehab or recover from your injuries now. These things can make your whole process fun, too. That’s important, since you’ll need to stick to a regimen to get the best results.
Online Resources
All you have to do is open up your web browser and search for ways to rehabilitate and recover from your particular injury. For example, if you need to rehabilitate your hip area, it can help to learn about the anatomy of the hip itself. Make sure that the sites are reputable, though.
Apps/Computer Program
This is basically along the same track as the above, except you can use the smartphone in your hand. Go to the app store and you’ll see a lot of free ones or ones that cost very little that will give you customized exercises or stretches to do at home. Do your research, though. Make sure these apps have been used by a lot of people and that they rate them highly.
Glidecycle
Remember using the elliptical at the gym and staring out the window, wishing you could go somewhere? You can do that with the Glidecycle. It’s like an elliptical bicycle, which will be easy on your joints.It looks like a bike with no pedals – you use your natural gait to get it moving and your feet barely touch the ground. You use half your body weight and you can either run or walk when you use it. It’s a great way to rehab and get fresh air at the same time.
Millennial Medical Crutches
Having to hop around on crutches is no fun. The padding only protects you so much and your underarms or forearms can get sore, since the padding and ergonomics are not the greatest. That’s not the case with these new crutches. They have an ergonomic grip along with a shock-absorbing tip. The NBA, NHL, and NFL all use them.
Robotics
While we’re not at the stage of humanoid robots assisting in rehab, there’s still been a lot of progress in this field. Physical therapists often use them to help people who have had a stroke or brain tumor. Robots never get bored with doing things over and over, which is good for those patients who need help learning to walk again or do basic tasks.
Tilt Table
This might sound like an amusement park ride or something that would be on a game show. It’s actually something that can help people who might be prone to fainting. That’s because your blood pressure might not stay stable when you’re standing. By using the Tilt Table, you’ll eventually be able to stand with full body support.
Standing Frame
Here’s a great way for people who used to be reliant on using a wheelchair in order to get around. This allows them to get into a standing position to walk around. It’s important to stand, since it will improve your bone density and the blood flow through your body, especially in your legs. Lack of blood flow can lead to things like blood clots. The standing frame can help prevent that.
Video Gait Analysis
People use video all the time to analyze things. Athletic clinics use it for things like seeing if a pitcher’s motion is optimal to reach their highest pitch speeds, or if a batter’s swing mechanics will help them hit the ball farther. The same can be used to see how people walk or use their wheelchairs. The video will show any deficiencies, which will then allow the staff to figure out the best way to correct them and train you to walk properly.
Video Games and Virtual Reality
This is a great way to keep people from getting bored during rehab. There are a lot of games, especially on the Nintendo Wii, which can help you focus on your balance, strength, gait, and coordination. You’ll be looking forward to trying to beat your personal best each time. Virtual reality headsets are also an excellent way to work on it too, with games like BeatSaber.
As technology continually improves, there are going to be even more innovations down the road. You’ll find that rehab or recovery is nowhere near as boring as it was in the past.
