The Use of Smartphone Applications in Stroke Rehabilitation in Korea

OBJECTIVE: We studied the use of smartphone technology in stroke rehabilitation in Korea and gathered opinions on how it would best be utilized it in a clinical setting. METHOD: Physiatrists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and rehabilitation ward nurses were surveyed to examine smartphone propagation among the rehabilitation team, current therapeutic knowledge, the use of smartphone technology, and perceptions regarding the potential therapeutic use of smartphones in rehabilitation. The respondents were also asked to specify the applications considered to be the most appropriate for rehabilitation. We also examined applications available for stroke rehabilitation at Android and Apple stores. RESULTS: Of the respondents, 92% had never using smartphone technology in rehabilitation with their clients. The greatest barrier to use was that "smartphone technology and appropriate applications were not available for rehabilitation settings" (71.4%). Areas identified as most appropriate for smartphone use in therapy included provision of information (82.4%) and cognitive (72.5%) and language training (68.1%). We found only a few applications in android and Apple application stores. Of the respondents, 89% intended to use smartphone applications in rehabilitation in the future. CONCLUSION: Smartphone applications developed for stroke rehabilitation are promising. Further research and the development of new therapeutic applications for use in rehabilitation and across health care are needed.

The Use of Smartphone Applications in Stroke Rehabilitation in Korea

OBJECTIVE: We studied the use of smartphone technology in stroke rehabilitation in Korea and gathered opinions on how it would best be utilized it in a clinical setting. METHOD: Physiatrists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and rehabilitation ward nurses were surveyed to examine smartphone propagation among the rehabilitation team, current therapeutic knowledge, the use of smartphone technology, and perceptions regarding the potential therapeutic use of smartphones in rehabilitation. The respondents were also asked to specify the applications considered to be the most appropriate for rehabilitation. We also examined applications available for stroke rehabilitation at Android and Apple stores. RESULTS: Of the respondents, 92% had never using smartphone technology in rehabilitation with their clients. The greatest barrier to use was that "smartphone technology and appropriate applications were not available for rehabilitation settings" (71.4%). Areas identified as most appropriate for smartphone use in therapy included provision of information (82.4%) and cognitive (72.5%) and language training (68.1%). We found only a few applications in android and Apple application stores. Of the respondents, 89% intended to use smartphone applications in rehabilitation in the future. CONCLUSION: Smartphone applications developed for stroke rehabilitation are promising. Further research and the development of new therapeutic applications for use in rehabilitation and across health care are needed.

Upper Extremity Proprioceptive Assessment Test Using Virtual Environment Technique in Patients with Stroke

OBJECTIVE: To examine the reliability of upper extremity proprioceptive assessment test using virtual environment technique (VET) in patients with stroke with test-retest paradigm and define criterion for normal value by comparing with unimpaired control group. METHOD: Thirty stroke patients and 30 control groups were recruited. The VET apparatus is consisted of virtual reality upper extremity tester (VRUPT), encoder, and head-mounted display (HMD). VET-based test is composed of two tasks. Angle assessment task is required matching of imposed joint positions without visual feedback for checking angle error. Reaching assessment task is required matching of imposed cylinder with visual feedback for checking time, number of click, total interaction error. RESULTS: In the test-retest analysis, correlation coefficients ranged from 0.73 to 0.99 (p<0.01). Significant differences consistently found between affected upper extremity joint of stroke group and corresponding upper extremity joint of control group for the major variables (p<0.05). The cut off value in shoulder, elbow, wrist joints were calculated as 8.24degrees, 8.41degrees, 10.31degrees and the frequency of proprioceptive abnormalities based on these cut off value of angle error in shoulder, elbow, wrist joints showed 60%, 67%, 83% respectively, in our stroke group. CONCLUSION: This VET-based proprioceptive assessment test shows promise in assessing proprioception in patients with stroke more objectively and quantitatively.