Spine Health & Wellness
My Role: Program Design/ Clinical Research/ Photography/ UX/UI Design/ User Research/ Branding/ Wireframing/ Prototyping/ Testing
Background
This project began in 2017 while I was working as an Exercise Physiologist for a health care company. I was shadowing a knee wellness program and upon completion, asked my manager if I could shadow the spine wellness program. To my surprise, such a program didn't exist! Being that I suffered a spine injury in high school, I understand that it can be a very scary experience that can lead to the helpless feeling that pain will be a part of daily life forever. Often times, clinical professionals suggest surgical intervention when in many cases, education and physical lifestyle changes can dramatically improve the prognosis. From this point on, I set out to create the best spine health and wellness program possible, arranging a team of physical therapists and clinitians to help along the way with my research.
Solution
Design an easy to use mobile application that packs in nearly 6 years of spine health research into a self-paced program. Users will answer pre-screening questions which will then triage individuals into the appropriate treatment or self care program to best fit their needs.
Goal
To design a comprehensive program to help individuals take control of their spine health through education, exercise, self symptom treatment and stress management.
Problem
Back pain or injury is a significant issue worldwide. Around 80% of adults experience back pain at some point in their lives. It is one of the most common causes of job-related disability and a top contributor to missed days work. It can also lead to immobility, depression and loss of quality of life. One of the main suggested routes of treatment is surgical intervention which can lead to a life time of complications.
Design Tools: Figma, Photoshop
The Process
Empathize
User research
Pain Points
1.
User Research
I conducted interviews in person and virtually and created empathy maps to best understand the users I am creating the website for. The primary group identified was adults over the age of 30 and up to 75 who has experienced some form of spine pain in recent weeks/months.
The entirety of this project was years in the making and it was initially developed as an in-person program. This was accompanied by research on spine health management via rehabilitation measures, strength training, improved mobility and range of motion of the body (flexibility and mobility work).
User Identified Pain Points
Time
Knowledge
Fear
Finding time for self-care is hard for individuals. A lot of time you can educate them on what to do, but they need to learn to prioritize the action.
When faced with an injury, many people are unaware of treatment options without surgery. This often leads to electing to have surgery without trying anything else.
When someone experiences pain, they are afraid that anything they may do may make it worse. This often leads to individuals not improving out of fear.
Define
Personas
Problem statements
2.
Persona and Journey
Problem Statement
Edna is a 75 year old retired widow with 2 children who has lost her independence due to her constant back pain. She would love to learn what she can do to reduce her pain so that she can gain her independence back.
Problem Statement
Joseph is a construction worker who has a back injury, who needs see if he can improve his spine health through improving his strength, mobility and flexibility because he wants to avoid getting surgery.
Ideate
Identify key competitors
Competative audit
Adapting Program to Digital
Sitemap
3.
Competitive Audit and Analysis
Key Competitors
Bend
Pliability
Curable
STRENGTHS
WEAKNESSES
STRENGTHS
STRENGTHS
WEAKNESSES
WEAKNESSES
Easy to navigate flow
Simple, intuitive design
Clear tutorials
Large database of stretches
Nice animated timer function
Multiple languages
Only gives one set of free stretches
No way to easily customize stretches for user needs
No vetting or triage questionnaire
Focused demographic is young, fit individuals
Brand recognition with Tom Brady
Used by CrossFit
Easy user flow
Thorough instructions with video demos
Immediate paywall
Only offers one free stretch turorial
"Free Trial" to try and trick users to sign up after trial period over
No way to customize stretch routine to user needs
For users with chronic back pain
Fully responsive app
Easy flow for users
Good instructions and turorials on stretches
Multiple languages
Immediate paywall
Automatically enrolled in free trial
No access after trial ends
No vetting process to triage appropriate care
Adapting the Program to Digital
In Person Program
Participants were pre-screened, triaged and vetted prior to being allowed in program.
All participants received a program binder to follow along with the in-person demonstrations
Going Virtual
The Covid-19 pandemic caused the in-person program to be un attainable, so I went virtual!
Desktop and Mobile Design
Through the Google UX Course, I decided to use the spine program as a course project. The prompt was to design a mobile app, and accompanying desktop and mobile website.
Prototype
Wireframes
Lo-Fi Prototype
4.
Wireframes
This app is meant to educate users on spine health, so incorporated the introduction education into an easy to follow user flow. Users enjoyed the experience.
Lo-Fi Wireframes
Lo-Fi Prototype
This low fidelity prototype shows the initial flow of the education introduction, pre screening questions then the flow of the program content.
Test
Usability studies
Final mockups and prototype
Accessability
Responsive web design
5.
Usability Studies
Study Findings
Mockups
People enjoyed the easy to follow flow from the low fidelity prototype so I kept a log of the same easy animations and navigations when turning it high fidelity.
A bottom menu navigation was added to switch between the program, schedule and favorites views.
Final Mockups
Hi-Fi Prototype
The final prototype presents an easy to follow flow, complete with introduction, screening questions and program contents that get unlocked as content is viewed/completed.
Accessability
Language
Vision
Hearing
Users can choose language of choice upon the initial set up of the application.
All videos have an audio component with adjustable volume for easy listening. Text size can be increased for better viewing along with zoom options.
For the audibly impaired, the app has typed descriptions to go along with all videos.
Responsive Web Design
