Bringing rehabilitation home with an e-health platform to treat stroke patients: study protocol of a randomized clinical trial (RGS@home).

BACKGROUND: There is a pressing need for scalable healthcare solutions and a shift in the rehabilitation paradigm from hospitals to homes to tackle the increase in stroke incidence while reducing the practical and economic burden for patients, hospitals, and society. Digital health technologies can contribute to addressing this challenge; however, little is known about their effectiveness in at-home settings. In response, we have designed the RGS@home study to investigate the effectiveness, acceptance, and cost of a deep tech solution called the Rehabilitation Gaming System (RGS). RGS is a cloud-based system for delivering AI-enhanced rehabilitation using virtual reality, motion capture, and wearables that can be used in the hospital and at home. The core principles of the brain theory-based RGS intervention are to deliver rehabilitation exercises in the form of embodied, goal-oriented, and task-specific action. METHODS: The RGS@home study is a randomized longitudinal clinical trial designed to assess whether the combination of the RGS intervention with standard care is superior to standard care alone for the functional recovery of stroke patients at the hospital and at home. The study is conducted in collaboration with hospitals in Spain, Sweden, and France and includes inpatients and outpatients at subacute and chronic stages post-stroke. The intervention duration is 3 months with assessment at baseline and after 3, 6, and 12 months. The impact of RGS is evaluated in terms of quality of life measurements, usability, and acceptance using standardized clinical scales, together with health economic analysis. So far, one-third of the patients expected to participate in the study have been recruited (N = 90, mean age 60, days after stroke ≥ 30 days). The trial will end in July 2023. DISCUSSION: We predict an improvement in the patients' recovery, high acceptance, and reduced costs due to a soft landing from the clinic to home rehabilitation. In addition, the data provided will allow us to assess whether the prescription of therapy at home can counteract deterioration and improve quality of life while also identifying new standards for online and remote assessment, diagnostics, and intervention across European hospitals. TRIAL REGISTRATION: C linicalTrials.gov NCT04620707. Registered on November 3, 2020.

Measured and Perceived Effects of Upper Limb Home-Based Exergaming Interventions on Activity after Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

After discharge from the hospital to home, stroke patients may experience weakness and reduced movement in their hemiparetic arms that limits their ability to perform daily activities. Therapists can use exercise games (exergames) to maintain functional abilities and daily use of the arm at home. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine the efficiency of upper limb home-based rehabilitation, using exergaming on activity abilities in stroke. Randomized controlled trials were reviewed in the CENTRAL, MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, and SCOPUS online databases. Clinical measures of observation and self-reporting were studied in post-intervention and follow-up. Nine studies were included in this systematic review (535 participants). The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) score was 6.6/10 (SD 1.0, range 5-8), indicating good quality. This systematic review and meta-analysis showed that upper limb home-based exergaming interventions were no more effective in terms of activity than conventional therapy after stroke, according to the observational and subjective assessments in post-intervention and follow-up. Using this same approach, future studies should focus on evaluating home-based exergames through subgroup analysis to be able to propose recommendations.

Effects on gait and balance of home-based active video game interventions in persons with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic makes it difficult to obtain physical therapy in rehabilitation centres, particularly for persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS), who are a population at high risk, since viral infections may contribute to MS exacerbations and relapses. Active video games could be a way to maintain physical therapy at home as part of the rehabilitation. The aim of this review is to summarise the current best evidence for the effectiveness of home-based active video games on gait and balance, user compliance, feasibility and safety for pwMS. METHODS: We searched for studies in five databases (PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, CINAHL and Science direct) up to October 2020. Selection of studies, extraction of data and methodological quality assessment through the PEDro scale were made independently by two authors and discussed with a third author. RESULTS: Nine studies were included in this systematic review. We found significant improvements in balance; results were mixed concerning mobility, physical activity and gait. Home-based active video games are feasible and safe, with good compliance and adherence. The methodological quality of the studies was moderate (PEDro scale: 5.3 ± 2). CONCLUSION: Overall, home-based active video games were found safe and effective improving static and dynamic balance in pwMS. Compliance was good, probably because it is a motivating and enjoyable training. Active video games can be a relevant alternative for physical rehabilitation at home in pwMS. Future studies should follow more rigorous methodological standards (larger sample sizes, more randomised controlled trials) to improve the quality of evidence and include cost-effectiveness in the analysis.