Therapeutic and Assistive Devices - Various Types and Their Uses

Introduction:

Patients and doctors use therapeutic and assistive devices in medical facilities daily. Physical therapy provides a wide range of technology and equipment available, benefiting clinicians and patients. The primary role of clinicians is to provide the appropriate therapeutic and assistive devices for each patient and teach them to use them correctly. The early stage of therapy involves rehabilitation to reduce pain and swelling of the patients. Then, therapeutic and assistive devices help in the next active phase, which aims to return the individual to everyday life and gain muscle strength.

What Is a Therapeutic Device?

A therapeutic device is an instrument or apparatus used to diagnose, prevent, and treat diseases or impairments. It also helps maintain or restore the health of the individuals. The two main categories of therapeutic devices are:

• Devices that help patients in daily activities.

• Devices that help the medical team in therapeutic services.

What Is an Assistive Device?

An assistive device is an external device used to assist people in performing tasks. Older people and people with disabilities depend on assistive devices to carry out daily activities. However, these devices will not restore any the patient’s loss.

What Are the Examples of Therapeutic Devices?

Some of the therapeutic devices used in rehabilitation include the following:

1. Diathermy Units - The diathermy device is a therapeutic device that uses deep heat or high-frequency electromagnetic current to cut or coagulate tissues. This device is used to achieve hemostasis in finer surgeries, to divide large masses of muscles, and to deliver moderate heat to the pathologic lesions during physiotherapy.

2. Electrical Stimulation Machine - This device is used for electrical stimulation therapy. It applies electrical stimulation to treat muscle pain and spasms. Physical therapists attach electrodes to the patient’s skin that cause muscle contraction. It helps to prevent muscle dystrophy in conditions such as arthritis, sprains, stroke, and spinal cord injuries.

3. Electrotherapy Machine - The electrotherapy machine consists of a battery connected to adhesive electrode pads by wires. This device uses an electric current to relieve pain, improve bone growth, strengthen muscles, repair tissues, and improve circulation and physical functioning.

4. Light and Laser Therapy Devices - Light or laser therapy is a non-invasive therapeutic procedure that uses light energy to repair damaged skin, reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and promote healing.

5. Magnet Therapy Devices - This device relieves pain symptoms in rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, insomnia, headache, and fibromyalgia. The three magnetic device therapies are static magnetic field therapy, electrically charged magnetic therapy, and magnetic therapy combined with acupuncture.

6. Neuromuscular Stimulators - This device uses a low-level electric current applied to the affected areas to stimulate muscle contractions and cause movements of the limbs.

7. Therapeutic Ultrasound Machines - This machine is used for treating chronic pain and promoting tissue healing by physical and occupational therapists. It provides deep heating to the tissues to improve blood circulation. This device is used in cases of shoulder pain, joint tightness, ligament injuries, and tendonitis (inflammation of tendons).

What Are the Examples of Assistive Devices?

There are different categories of assistive devices. They are:

• Mobility Devices - These devices help people to walk or move. Some mobility devices are:

1. Canes: These are also called walking sticks that provide balance and support in walking and standing and improve safety and security while walking. The types of canes are single-point walking sticks (straight canes), offset canes, multiple-legged canes (quad canes with four legs), hemi walkers, and measuring canes.

2. Wheelchairs: These help the patients to move. Wheelchairs can be designed according to the patient’s condition. For example, patients suffering from hemiplegia can use a one-arm-drive or hemi-height wheelchair. Patients without arm functions can use motorized wheelchairs. Racing wheelchairs are prescribed for people with good upper body strength but impaired legs.

3. Mobility Scooters: These help patients who cannot walk long distances. The mobility scooters are battery-powered, with a steering wheel. They can move forward and backward. However, they cannot be used on stairs.

4. Crutches: These are walking aids that help individuals who cannot use their legs to support their weight while walking. The three types of crutches are axilla or underarm crutches, forearm crutches, and gutter crutches.

• Positioning Devices - Positioning devices help people with impairments to maintain good sitting, standing, and lying positions and avoid deformities due to improper positioning. Some positioning devices are wedges, chairs (special seats or corner chairs), and standing frames.

• Daily Living Devices - These devices help patients with daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, toileting, and eating. Some examples of assistive devices for daily living are adapted cutlery and cups, shower seats, stools in the shower area, toilet frames and sheets, and dressing sticks.

• Vision Devices - They help people with poor vision or blindness. Vision devices include large print books, magnifiers, eyeglasses, braille for reading and writing, computer screen readers, and audio devices.

• Hearing Devices - These devices help people with hearing loss communicate with others. Examples of hearing aids are amplified telephones, headphones, telecommunication devices, and the visual system, such as light when the doorbell rings.

• Communication Devices - Request cards, electronic speech output devices, and communication boards with pictures, symbols, or letters of the alphabet to help people with speech and understanding difficulties.

• Cognitive Devices - Brain injuries and mental illness affect the individual's cognitive abilities, such as memory, problem-solving, and planning. Devices such as lists, diaries, calendars, schedules, and electronic devices can assist individuals in remembering their tasks.

• Prostheses - These are artificial body parts that replace upper or lower limbs. Trained prosthetic professionals make the prostheses according to patient needs and safety requirements.

• Orthoses - It supports damaged joints, muscles, bones, ligaments, and tendons. Orthoses are very expensive and are not usually covered by insurance.

• Devices used for physiotherapy and rehabilitation at home include traction sets (skin and spine traction), braces, and splints for support.

What Are the Barriers to Using Assistive Devices?

According to UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund), the barriers to individuals using therapeutic and assistive devices are as follows:

• Financial barriers.

• Lack of awareness.

• Lack of human resources.

• Lack of products and services.

• Inaccessible environments.

Conclusion:

Therapeutic and assistive devices have ushered in a new era of healthcare, empowering individuals with disabilities or medical conditions to lead more fulfilling lives. Through advancements in mobility, sensory augmentation, rehabilitation tools, and wearable technology, these devices are transforming the way we approach patient care and fostering independence and improved well-being. As technology continues to evolve, the potential for therapeutic and assistive devices will only grow, offering new possibilities for healthcare