More motivated patients through digital therapy for MS
Sauerland Clinic Hachen – Neurological Specialist Clinic for Multiple Sclerosis
"With Pixformance we have a significant time saving. After just a 30-minute induction, patients can train independently under supervision. This allows more patients to be cared for simultaneously and – in the meantime – even documentation can be completed."
— Gabriele Buchstein, Head of Physiotherapy, Sauerland Clinic Hachen
Gabriele Buchstein
Head of Physiotherapy
Clinic Profile
Location
Hachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Founded
1964
Specialization
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Patient Capacity
125 beds
More Info
www.sauerlandklinik-hachen.deMore time, more repetitions, more motivation: digital therapy for MS
In the neurological acute clinic in the Sauerland region specializing in Multiple Sclerosis, patients are cared for in six departments: physiotherapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, music therapy, and nursing. Gabriele Buchstein and her team offer an MS-targeted therapy concept – combining established neurophysiological therapies with state-of-the-art therapy approaches, including digital movement therapy and telerehabilitation.
To expand the offering and provide patients with additional training motivation, Buchstein chose two Pixformance stations following a successful trial. Currently around 30 patients train at the stations. A certain level of mobility is required – training in a wheelchair is easily possible thanks to many seated exercises. In addition to the 350+ exercises, the clinic has developed custom exercises together with Pixformance specially tailored to MS patients.
Independence for patients, relief for therapists
After a brief induction, patients can already train independently at the stations. A contact person is always nearby, but can attend to other patients or documentation.
"All age groups can really use the Pixformance stations. It's wonderful that so many patients can benefit from the training, as long as cognitive abilities allow it. And thanks to the time savings, it's not just the patients but us therapists who effectively benefit."
— Gabriele Buchstein
Digitalization plays a major role at Sauerland Clinic. Buchstein also references the research on internal vs. external attentional focus:
"Unlike the internal attentional focus, where you guide the patient in person, Pixformance training involves an external attentional focus."
The patient receives the exercise task externally via the station and is therefore no longer as focused on their own body, but instead focuses on the exercise execution – which produces a greater improvement effect.
"It's like playing a game – sometimes you don't notice how time passes. And this is scientifically supported: movements are performed more reflexively and you improve significantly."
— Gabriele Buchstein
More repetitions, faster therapy success
Buchstein sees another major advantage in the noticeably greater motivation of patients. Scientifically proven: the training effect increases significantly with the number of repetitions.
"The great thing about Pixformance is that the station encourages patients to do more repetitions. The patients are enthusiastic and very motivated – which, I have to admit, is not always the case. Of course we as therapists benefit from this too, as patients therefore perform their exercises better and more purposefully."
— Gabriele Buchstein
"It would of course be wonderful to be able to see whether patients continue training at home. So it's definitely a future goal to also support patients beyond their clinic stay at home."
Custom exercises for the special needs of MS patients
Together with the therapy team on-site in Hachen, Pixformance has developed new exercises. In addition to the 350+ exercises from the Pixformance catalogue, further training sequences are available – specifically developed for the various stages of MS, including many seated exercises.
