Introduction
The activity I chose for this blog post was listening to podcasts. I ended up exploring two fascinating episodes: one focused on the role of gaming in mental health care and the other on using gamification for hand rehabilitation.
Podcast #1: Levelling Up Mental Healthcare: Bridging the Gap with Gaming and Evidence-Based Therapy – with Dr. Bee Lim
The first podcast explored the growing recognition of gaming as a valuable tool in mental health care, particularly for healthcare professionals. Dr. Bee Lim provided several compelling examples of how gaming can help manage stress and burnout while enhancing therapy.
Key Takeaways:
- Gaming as a Mental Health Tool: Casual gaming can serve as an effective mental break for professionals like surgeons and CEOs, improving focus, creativity, and precision. For example, laparoscopic surgeons who gamed regularly performed tasks faster and more accurately while maintaining a positive emotional state.
- Rehabilitation Through Gaming: Games like Pokémon Go are being “prescribed” to encourage physical activity, helping patients monitor their progress while fostering a sense of achievement. Gamification can provide long-term motivation for patients, addressing the common issue of disengagement with traditional therapy exercises.
- Intergenerational Connections: Games such as Flutter facilitate bonding between children and grandparents, reducing isolation and fostering meaningful relationships. This highlights gaming’s potential to bridge generational gaps while providing emotional support.
- Balancing Entertainment and Therapy: The podcast used the analogy of “broccoli” (evidence-based therapy) and “chocolate” (engaging gaming experiences). The ideal therapeutic tool combines the two, creating a “new brand of chocolate” that is both enjoyable and evidence-based.
One particularly innovative idea discussed was using gaming as “playable therapy.” For instance, therapeutic games like BeTuned are being designed to blend engaging gameplay with evidence-based benefits. These tools aim to make therapy more approachable and effective by aligning it with clients’ interests and fostering a sense of agency.
Gaming’s potential as a therapeutic tool is immense, especially when health professionals embrace its integration into therapy. By combining evidence-based methods with the interactive and engaging elements of games, therapy can become both effective and enjoyable.
Podcast #2: Episode 13: Dr. Paul Rinne & Nicola Goldsmith – Levelling Up Hand Rehab
The second podcast delved into the challenges and opportunities of integrating technology into rehabilitation, focusing on gamification in hand therapy. Dr. Paul Rinne, a neuroscientist, highlighted the complexities of creating tools that balance engagement with therapeutic goals.
Key Takeaways:
- Accessibility Challenges: Traditional rehabilitation tools often require expensive equipment, trained staff, or specialized environments, limiting accessibility. The solution? Developing affordable, portable devices and games that bring therapy into patients’ homes.
- Therapeutic Gamification vs. Entertainment: Unlike entertainment-focused gaming, therapeutic games prioritize function over fun. Activities are designed to meet patients’ specific rehabilitation needs, offering individualized exercises that adapt to the user’s age, cognitive ability, and physical challenges.
- Keeping Patients Engaged: Simple, game-like activities—such as flicking through pictures of 100 cats—encourage patients to participate while providing valuable data on their progress. This approach keeps the process engaging without compromising therapeutic value.
- Agency and Motivation: A core principle of effective rehabilitation is showing patients what they can achieve. Sensitive sensors track progress and visualize it in meaningful ways, such as simulating real-world tasks like playing a musical instrument or carrying groceries. This approach not only motivates patients but also strengthens neuroplasticity, aiding recovery.
- Rehabilitation for Everyday Life: The ultimate goal of therapeutic gamification is to create tools that closely replicate real-world functions, ensuring that progress in therapy translates directly to daily activities. For example, an app might simulate playing the cello, offering both physical and emotional benefits.
One of the most valuable insights from this podcast was the emphasis on patient-centric design. By starting with the user and tailoring activities to their needs, the tools can provide measurable, impactful results.
Conclusion
Listening to these podcasts was both enjoyable and enlightening. They showcased the exciting ways gaming and technology are being integrated into therapy, from helping healthcare professionals manage stress and burnout to designing specialized rehabilitation tools. The key takeaway is that the fusion of enjoyment and evidence-based therapy offers a new paradigm in healthcare—one where technology is not just for entertainment but a powerful resource for healing and recovery.
As technology evolves, I’m excited to see how these innovative approaches will be refined to offer even more personalized, effective, and engaging therapeutic experiences. The intersection of gaming, therapy, and neuroscience holds immense potential to transform physical and mental health care in the years to come.
Further Reading and Information
- Levelling Up Mental Healthcare – with Dr. Bee Lim
- Episode 13: Dr. Paul Rinne & Nicola Goldsmith – Levelling Up Hand Rehab
Other podcasts I considered:
