Examine your daily routine. Perhaps you wake up to the sound of your phone alarm, brush your teeth with an electric toothbrush, turn on the TV to catch up on your favourite show, ask Alexa a question, put a load of laundry into the washing machine, or use a computer to pay your bills online. No matter how big or small or easy or complex a task may be, there is often a bevy of technologies that we can rely on to help us complete it.
The degree to which technology has embedded itself into our lives is becoming increasingly apparent, and the health space is no exception. Here are a few tech-based strategies that may offer benefits (1-3). Click on the links below to learn more.
Games incorporate interesting features such as point collection, emphasizing rankings through leaderboards, confronting users with challenges, social networking, and providing rewards. Preliminary research shows that smartphone applications (aka apps) that utilize game-like features may increase physical activity levels, namely step count and walking. More research is needed to confirm these benefits and highlight the most effective game-like features to include within apps (1).
Physical activity pops up again, but this time the conversation is specifically related to people living with rheumatic and/or musculoskeletal diseases. Research shows that in this population, wearable activity trackers may boost the number of daily steps taken and the amount of time spent participating in moderate to vigorous activity. More research is needed on the long-term effects of this strategy and what additional methods to best pair it with (2).
Virtual reality refers to the use of computer technology to induce the feeling of being in an artificial or augmented environment (1;4). Research shows that in people who have had a stroke, virtual reality therapy may produce small improvements in overall arm function, motor impairment level, and activities of daily living. What is more, immersive therapy may be best and those with moderate to severe arm weakness may see the most benefit (3).
Before you download a gamified app, purchase a wearable activity tracker, or put on a virtual reality headset, discuss these strategies with your healthcare team. Ask whether they are appropriate for you, given the health conditions you may live with and your health status, as well as how to utilize these strategies safely.
Chunguza utaratibu wako wa kila siku. Unaweza kuamka kwa sauti ya kengele ya simu yako, kusafisha meno yako na brashi ya meno ya umeme, kuwasha TV ili kupata kipindi chako unachokipenda, kuuliza Alexa swali, kuweka mzigo wa nguo katika mashine ya kuosha, au kutumia kompyuta kulipa bili yako mtandaoni. Haijalishi kazi ni kubwa au ndogo, rahisi au ngumu, kuna teknolojia nyingi ambazo tunaweza kutegemea kutusaidia kuikamilisha. Kiwango ambacho teknolojia imejiingiza katika maisha yetu inakuwa dhahiri zaidi na zaidi, na nafasi ya afya sio ubaguzi. Hapa kuna mbinu kadhaa za teknolojia ambazo zinaweza kutoa faida (1-3). Bonyeza viungo hapa chini ili kujifunza zaidi. Michezo inajumuisha vipengele vya kuvutia kama vile ukusanyaji wa pointi, kusisitiza nafasi kupitia chati za uongozi, kukabiliana na watumiaji na changamoto, mitandao ya kijamii, na kutoa tuzo. Utafiti wa awali unaonyesha kwamba programu za simu za mkononi ambazo hutumia vipengele kama vya mchezo zinaweza kuongeza viwango vya shughuli za mwili, yaani, kuhesabu hatua na kutembea. Utafiti zaidi unahitajika ili kuthibitisha faida hizi na kuonyesha vipengele bora vya mchezo vinavyoweza kuingizwa ndani ya programu (1). Katika kipindi hiki, watu wengi wanafanya mazoezi ya mwili, lakini kwa mara ya kwanza, watu wanaohusika na ugonjwa wa rheumatic na misuli na mifupa. Utafiti unaonyesha kwamba katika idadi hii ya watu, vifaa vya kufuatilia shughuli vinavyoweza kuvaliwa vinaweza kuongeza idadi ya hatua za kila siku zilizochukuliwa na kiasi cha wakati uliotumika kushiriki katika shughuli za wastani hadi nguvu. Utafiti zaidi unahitajika juu ya athari za muda mrefu za mkakati huu na ni mbinu gani za ziada zinazoweza kuunganishwa vizuri na (2). Virtual Reality ni matumizi ya teknolojia ya kompyuta ili kuchochea hisia ya kuwa katika mazingira bandia au kuongezeka. Utafiti unaonyesha kwamba kwa watu ambao wamepatwa na kiharusi, tiba ya hali halisi inaweza kusababisha maboresho madogo katika utendaji wa jumla wa mkono, kiwango cha kupooza kwa magari, na shughuli za maisha ya kila siku. Kwa kuongezea, tiba ya kuzamisha inaweza kuwa bora na wale walio na udhaifu wa kati hadi mkali wa mkono wanaweza kuona faida kubwa zaidi (3). Kabla ya kupakua programu ya gamified, kununua mfuatiliaji wa shughuli za kuvaa, au kuweka vichwa vya sauti vya hali halisi, zungumzia mikakati hii na timu yako ya huduma ya afya. Uliza kama ni sahihi kwa ajili yako, kutokana na hali ya afya unaweza kuishi na, na jinsi ya kutumia mikakati hii kwa usalama.