Diploma thesis

Overview

Movo was created as part of the Interaction Design programme at the Bern School of Design. The work is based on a specific commission from a real client.

The focus of this work is on physiotherapy patients, who are to be supported with the help of the product created here. The therapist plays an equally important role, as he or she is the expert and treats the patient.

Problem definition

Physiotherapy is a treatment that extends over a certain period of time and requires several sessions on site. It is important that the patient actively participates in the practice, as well as continuing the individual exercises from home. However, this motivation decreases over time and this is where Movo comes in.

Meine Rolle

Research
Presentation
Interaction & Visualdesign
Prototyping
Branding
Documentation
February 2022 - May 2022

Prototype

The different use cases of the patient and the therapist can be discovered in the Figma prototypes. The prototype is only available in german.

The therapist takes the initial anamnesis and records the personalised exercise together with the patient.
The prototype
The patient can register directly at the practice.
The prototype
Der Patient wird Zuhause erinnert und führt die Übung angeleitet aus.
Zum Prototyp

Research

How does a physiotherapy practice work today?

Survey with Insel Spital physiotherapists network
  • 69% use digital products.
  • 62% use the Insel app.
  • Exercises are explained digitally using drawings, written descriptions, videos and photographs.
  • Unclear points from the patient are "Execution of the exercise", "What to do in case of pain", "Lack of education".
  • Reasons why patients do not do the exercises are "patient does not see the benefit", "lack of energy, pain", "lack of suffering".
  • The therapists see the following benefits in an app: "exchange with therapists", "empowerment of patients", "training protocol", "feedback and control".
  • Therapists are always out and about in the practice, which is why the majority (93%) said they prefer a smartphone, tablet or laptop.

How can you visualise the patient?

Survey with patients
  • 57% performed their exercises consistently.
  • 60% have injured their lumbar spine, knee or foot.
  • Patients are most motivated by physical progress, followed by the joy of exercise itself.

How patients experienced physiotherapy?

Interview with patients
  • Although it was stated in the survey that the exercises were done consistently, the interview revealed that the exercises were done less and less over time.
  • The pressure of suffering is one of the greatest motivators.
  • If the exercises can be integrated into everyday life or directly into a training plan, this is very motivating
  • Generally speaking, the exercises are straightforward and easy to remember. However, there is a lack of feedback when doing the exercises at home.
  • Any uncertainties will be discussed directly with the therapist at the next session.
  • The exercises are done without knowledge according to feeling (along the pain).

Screen Design

Recording of exercise

  • Trigger points visualise the muscle groups to be stressed in order to increase the patient's understanding.
  • The therapist can customise the exercise by adjusting the intensity.
  • The instruction video is the central medium for imparting knowledge. This allows the therapist to perform the exercise, explain it and film it directly.

Record instruction video

The therapist can supplement the recording with visual instructions.

Patienten interface

The patient can find the exercises recorded during therapy with all settings and instructions in their app.

  • Today's exercises and the course of therapy are displayed on the overview. This means that the patient has all the important information on the first screen and is motivated by the progress made so far in the course of therapy.
  • Each exercise has its own exercise page with the relevant information. The "repetition in series" gamification is intended to further motivate the patient.

Execution of the exercise

  • The patient is instructed to set up the smartphone correctly so that the app can guide them through the exercise visually and with audio signals.
  • The app recognises the patient's position and gives instructions on how fast an exercise should be performed, how long the exercise should be held in the final position and how far the patient should move.