Living in the post-pandemic world means that patients who need medical assistance need to adapt to changing environments and possible restrictions in movement for certain periods of time. This is particularly important for patients who require rehabilitation therapy for certain conditions or illnesses. 

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An important aspect of addressing this is by leveraging the right technology to seek therapy and care. In this regard, online services, virtual reality, and innovative adaptive equipment have proven to be highly beneficial for various kinds of rehabilitation needs. They provide targeted and customized treatment plans and offer convenient and cost-effective care. 

In this article, we highlight the different kinds of rehabilitation therapies you can do from home and still get excellent recovery results.

Virtual Reality Therapy 

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In the last few years, virtual reality, commonly referred to as VR, has started to gain considerable traction as a viable means of obtaining treatment, including rehabilitation therapy. 

VR rehabilitation is a telehealth service that can provide all sorts of medical assistance including mental health therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language therapy. In a nutshell, VR therapy involves the patient immersing themselves in a digitally created space so that they can interact with a licensed medical professional and receive treatment services from the comfort of their home. 

Generally, there are three simple steps to access VR treatment:

1. Sign up, disclose your symptoms, and choose a professional therapist for an initial clinical evaluation via a video call. 
2. Receive your VR headset containing pre-loaded FDA-registered applications.
3. Begin your rehabilitation treatment as per the plan agreed between you and your therapist during the first meeting. 

VR rehabilitation has proven to be a fantastic alternative to conventional outpatient therapy since it allows the recipient to feel at ease in their home. It is also convenient and usually less costly since it can be accessed remotely and doesn’t require you showing up to any facility for treatment. All this greatly enhances the path to recovery and positively contributes towards a successful rehabilitation journey. 

Post-operative Recovery

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When you or your loved ones undergo surgery, it is often necessary to transition back into your routine using professional assistance. This is known as post-operative recovery. This may be in the form of adaptive equipment assistance or medical guidance from a licensed practitioner. 

One helpful change you can make is swapping out your old mattress and choosing a bariatric bed to improve independent movement abilities post-op. A bariatric bed is an electric adjustable bed that supports people who may require additional features to help support them in their daily lives. Alternatively, it can also be used by people who are obese and struggle to find a mattress that supports their weight. 

A bariatric bed for post-op can allow the individual to get out of bed themselves. It does this by allowing the user to raise the bed’s head section and lower the foot section so that they may be able to safely slide their legs to the floor and use the bed rails for additional support. 

Nowadays, with advances in technology, some bariatric beds may also support voice control. They are voice-activated and compatible with environmental control units (ECUs) such as Google Home and Amazon Echo. This makes them highly useful for post-op patients who require assistance on a daily basis over an extended period of time. 

Physical And Occupational Therapy 

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Physical therapy, commonly referred to as PT, may be undertaken as part of post-op care, after an accident, following an incident such as a stroke, or for long-term illness such as Parkinson’s or MS. PT involves both neurological and musculoskeletal physiotherapy interventions by experienced therapists who empower individuals to re-engage in their life. 

A health therapy service can schedule regular at-home appointments for PT to assess the safety of the home in relation to patient condition, determine the need for adaptive equipment such as a walker, recommend exercise routines to strengthen and improve mobility and activity, and educate individuals or caregivers on best practices. 

These at-home rehabilitation services can also aid in occupational therapy, which involves helping patients who may require assistance in daily activities such as personal up-keeping tasks like dressing and bathing and house management chores such as cleaning and cooking. 

Occupational therapy can enable individuals to adapt to routine activities following illness or injury and help improve motor, cognitive, visual, and perceptual skills. 

Speech-Language Therapy

Online speech-language therapy, or SLP, is a great way to rehabilitate individuals who have undergone illness or brain injury that has affected the muscles which control swallowing and/or speech. 

A reputable speech therapy platform will involve speech pathologists who guide individuals to strengthen the muscles in the mouth, face, and neck. Usually, these will include comprehensive long-term tailor-made programs to address the needs and concerns of the patient. 

Speech-language therapy may involve language intervention activities, articulation therapy, and feeding and swallowing therapy. By following the right exercises and treatment plans, patients can hope to stimulate damaged or weak muscles and improve their muscle movement and coordination, reading and speech, as well as eating and swallowing. 

Parting Thoughts

Getting rehabilitation therapy at home requires you to search for the best health service facility. It is helpful to read testimonials, discuss payment plans, and verify qualifications of the medical practitioners you will be working with to ensure that you are getting quality treatment. 

Importantly, remember to stay consistent during your home rehabilitation treatment. This may require adjusting your day-to-day schedule around your treatment plan. Being regular and truly committing to rehabilitation therapy can enable you to get optimal results.