Revolutionizing Therapy: How Digital Physical Therapy Transformed During COVID-19 || TinyEYE Therapy Services

The COVID-19 pandemic brought many challenges, especially for children with developmental disorders who rely on physical therapy. A recent study titled "The impact of digital physical therapy during COVID-19 lockdown in children with developmental disorders: A qualitative study" sheds light on the experiences of parents and the potential benefits and hurdles of digital physical therapy. Here's how you can leverage these findings to improve your practice.

Key Findings

The study identified four main themes:

Ambivalent Experiences: Parents found digital physical therapy to be a useful solution during lockdown but also felt it was complicated and sometimes insufficient.
Barriers to Implementation: Challenges included lack of physical contact, training, and the need for parents to assume the therapist's role.
Facilitators: Technological accessibility and the adaptability of therapists and family involvement were key facilitators.
Future Possibilities: Digital physical therapy could complement face-to-face sessions, especially for families in remote areas or during minor illnesses.

Practical Tips for Practitioners

Based on these findings, here are some practical tips to improve your digital physical therapy sessions:

Enhance Training: Provide specific training for both therapists and parents on how to conduct effective digital sessions. This includes technical skills, privacy, and security measures.
Leverage Technology: Use asynchronous methods like videos and photos to reduce distractions and help parents focus on the therapist's instructions.
Flexible Scheduling: Adapt your schedule to meet the needs of families, ensuring they have ample time to participate without feeling overwhelmed.
Family Involvement: Encourage the involvement of other family members to reduce the workload on parents and make sessions more interactive.

Encouraging Further Research

While the study highlights the potential of digital physical therapy, there is still much to learn. Practitioners are encouraged to conduct further research to explore new strategies and technologies that can enhance the effectiveness of digital therapy. Collaborating with researchers and participating in studies can provide valuable insights and improve outcomes for children with developmental disorders.

To read the original research paper, please follow this link: The impact of digital physical therapy during COVID-19 lockdown in children with developmental disorders: A qualitative study.