5 Trends in Rehabilitation 2022

What are the major milestones in rehabilitation in 2022, where are we heading, what have we learned from the pandemic, what are the technological advances? In this article we take a look at the 5 most relevant rehabilitation trends for this year. Take note!

1. Telerehabilitation 

In recent years there has been a significant increase in the use of telerehabilitation in physiotherapy, which allows patients to receive rehabilitation services remotely via videoconferencing or other digital platforms. The COVID-19 pandemic meant that many people were unable to access rehabilitation services in person. This made telerehabilitation an effective alternative. 

This trend is likely to continue, as telerehabilitation offers a convenient and safe way for patients living in rural or remote areas, or for those with mobility issues that make it difficult to travel to a healthcare facility.

2. Technology within reach of many

The use of technology through wearable devices, robotics or Virtual Reality to improve rehabilitation outcomes can provide real-time information that helps healthcare professionals to monitor, control and track patients' progress and make necessary adjustments to their treatment plans.

 It also helps to motivate patients by increasing adherence to treatment and therefore effective rehabilitation. 

3. Personalized rehabilitation

Many rehabilitation programmes, such as ReHub, are focusing on personalised treatment plans that are tailored to the specific needs and goals of each patient.

This approach helps to ensure that the rehabilitation programme is as effective as possible in helping the patient achieve the desired results.

It is important to choose telerehabilitation software that allows you to adjust parameters and is clinically validated, thus ensuring that rehabilitation professionals provide a quality service. 

4. Interdisciplinary teams

Rehabilitation usually involves a team of healthcare professionals, such as rehabilitation physicians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists, working together to help the patient achieve their goals. This interdisciplinary approach allows for a more holistic approach to rehabilitation and can improve outcomes.

5. Focusing on functional outcomes

 Rehabilitation programmes are increasingly focused on helping patients achieve functional outcomes, such as being able to perform everyday activities, rather than just improving physical impairments. This shift in focus helps to ensure that rehabilitation efforts are more relevant to the patient's real-life needs and goals.

It is clear that telerehabilitation has the potential to revolutionise the way rehabilitation is delivered. Remote digital rehabilitation can provide convenient, accessible and cost-effective care for people with a wide range of conditions and disabilities, such as stroke, spinal cord injury and musculoskeletal disorders.

However, telerehabilitation is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and several challenges need to be addressed to realise its full potential. These include technology-related issues, such as the need for reliable internet connectivity and the availability of suitable devices, as well as issues related to training and support for both patients and healthcare professionals.

Despite these challenges, telerehabilitation offers a promising solution to many of the barriers that people with disabilities or chronic diseases face in accessing rehabilitation services. Continued innovation and public-private partnerships are needed to provide the best patient care, reduce costs and decongest services. Rehabilitation is a valuable complement to conventional rehabilitation tools, especially in situations where face-to-face care is not possible.