Smart Rehab

Home Exercise Program Using Smartphones

- 

Physiotherapy is an integral part of current treatment methods for many conditions and diseases. We as Physiotherapists see each patient for 2 - 4 hours per week; typically involving a consultation with a series of therapy sessions aimed at providing pain relief, increase in the range of motion; flexibility and strength. As 2 - 4 clinical hours is a small amount of time; Physiotherapists often use Exercise therapy as one of the key components, and discharge patients with a customized Home Exercise Program (HEP) to maintain the long-term therapeutic benefits; most importantly providing a HEP prescription cannot be ignored for successful outcomes.

Despite the health benefits that home exercises offer; a majority of the patients fail to perform their Home Exercises. A study conducted by Chandra et al,2012; reported Home Exercise Non-compliance is as high as 70% amongst the population attending the physiotherapy sessions. This correlates to a non-effective treatment; increased pain; impairment and cost. So, understanding the patient's behaviour, overcoming the patient's barriers and influencing exercise behaviour of the patient is essential for successful treatment outcomes.