Exercise Therapy Devices: An interview with MobiDurango

MobiDurango, the Physical Activity Guidance Service in Durango, has been active for four years. As part of their ongoing efforts to enhance the program, they have expanded service hours and activities. In doing so, they have incorporated David Health devices into their offerings. For insight into what the exercise devices are and how they are utilized, we conducted an interview with Ibon Bilbao, the counsellor overseeing the service. This blog is originally from Athlon and has been translated to English. The original blog can be found here.

What are David Health exercise therapy devices?

The devices feature cutting-edge technology and are developed in Finland. David’s solution is based on a comprehensive functional diagnosis and an exclusive treatment concept tailored for back and neck disorders. The exercise devices apply precise, targeted movements and controlled loads.

The devices offer tailored programs which are based on questionnaires, physical assessments, and functional diagnostics. The David devices provide a safe and effective exercise to enhance functional capacity, such as, mobility, strength, and coordination of the spine.

During the initial session, patients undergo two different tests—one to determine their range of motion and another to measure their strength.

EVE, a cloud-based therapy software program, collects and stores user data to determine the exercises, repetitions, and duration of the sets for the patients. This application quantifies force in Newtons and measures the range of motion in angles.

Who is the target audience for the use of the devices?

We introduced it as trial within the MobiDurango service. Therefore, among its users, we have selected a specific group that can improve their functional capabilities. This group will conclude the pilot program by December. However, the intention is to extend access to all users of the service. As previously mentioned, the common goal of both the guidance service and the devices remains unchanged.

What can you bring to the Counseling and Physical Activity Service?

The use of devices within counseling services can be very interesting. The devices provide the counselor with objective data on the user’s situation by assessing the amount of initial pain before each session. The exercises are always performed under the supervision of the terminal and, in addition, the devices themselves force the user to perform a very controlled movement, so there is less risk of injury.

The objective is to continue working in the future on these functional competencies worked on in the program, so the goal of the service is to provide continuity.

How long will the trial last?

In this first trial, there are 18 sessions. We will use the first and last session to perform the evaluation tests. According to the data provided in the first test, the objective is to improve the user’s functional capacities in the following 16 sessions. The sessions are 30 minutes long and are held twice a week.

Observing the users who have passed through during this brief period, what do they say about the service and the devices?

Each user has his or her own terminal and the exercises are interactive. For example, the movement, the rhythm, and the frequency appear on the screen for the user to follow. After each exercise, the user evaluates how well they have done it. This makes it a fun and motivating exercise, since their work is directly valued which encourages the patients to work to obtain benefits.

The users who currently participate in the pilot program come to the sessions with enthusiasm and excitement. In December we will have the objective data, and then we will prepare a report evaluating the process and the results.