Table 1 Study characteristics for all 11 RCTs
From: Effect of mobile application types on stroke rehabilitation: a systematic review
Author, Year | Length (months) | n | Population Age ± SD | Time since stroke | Intervention | Intervention Description | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chung et al., 2020 | 3 | 56 IG: 27 CG: 29 | Stroke survivors IG: 66.9 ± 14.0 CG: 72.5 ± 15.5 | 39.5  ± 15.3 days | Rehab videos | Exercise pamphlets with a QR code for exercise videos | Exercise pamphlets |
Grau-Pellicer et al., 2020 | 3 | 23 IG: 10 CG: 13 | Stroke survivors IG: 63.0 ± 11.9 CG: 68.5 ± 11.5 | 20.85  ± 59.74 months | Therapy app | Fitlab Training and Fitlab Test: accelerometer, GPS, chat messenger | Conventional rehabilitation program |
Kamal et al., 2020 | 12 | 277 IG: 141 CG: 136 | Stroke survivors with a caregiver IG: 60.6 ± 12.0 CG: 59.7 ± 14.3 | Unclear | Rehab videos Reminders | Movies4Stroke: videos on exercise, emergencies, meds, secondary prevention plus weekly reminder messages | Conventional rehabilitation program |
Kang et al., 2019 | 1 | 63 IG: 30 CG: 33 | Stroke survivors IG: 50.5 ± 10.8 CG: 52.3 ± 11.0 | Unclear | Education app | SHEMA: app containing 12 topics of stroke risk factors | Education booklet with the same 12 topics |
Moon et al., 2019 | 1 | 16 IG: 8 CG: 8 | Stroke survivors with dysphagia IG: 54.13 ± 5.4 CG: 55.4 ± 14.9 | 22.75  ± 9.21 days | Rehab videos | Instructional videos of orofacial exercises | Exercise booklet guide |
Emmerson et al., 2017 | 1 | 58 IG: 28 CG: 30 | Stroke survivors with upper limb dysfunction IG: 68 ± 15 CG: 63 ± 18 | 120 (58–226) days | Rehab videos Reminders | HEP videos of the participant performing programs with therapist commentary and daily reminder alarms | Exercises in a written format with diagrams; no reminders |
Kang et al., 2017 | 0.5 | 21 IG: 10 CG: 11 | Stroke survivors with central facial paresis IG: 63.1 ± 10.3 CG: 55.6 ± 16.0 |  < 12 weeks | Therapy app | Mirror application with reflection and reversal designed for orofacial exercises | Conventional rehabilitation program with SLP therapist |
Jang et al., 2016 | 1 | 21 IG: 10 CG: 11 | Stroke survivors with wrist & finger extensor MRC ≥ 2 IG: 39.3 ± 18.1 CG: 49.3 ± 14.0 | 963  ± 799 days | Therapy app | Finger training app focused on stretching, flexion, extension, opposition, and thumb abduction | Unclear |
Knoche et al., 2016 | 1 | 38 IG: 20 CG: 18 | Stroke survivors IG:63.6 ± 17.0 CG: 60.7 ± 12.7 | Unclear | Therapy app | WAM: moles appear on screen for users to tap | Unclear |
Kamal et al., 2015 | 2 | 162 IG: 83 CG: 79 | Stroke survivors IG: 56.1 ± 1.5 CG: 57.6 ± 1.3 | 2 (1–5) months | Reminders | SMS reminders to take medication and twice weekly SMS with health information | Conventional rehabilitation program |
Prokopenko et al., 2013 | 0.5 | 43 IG: 24 CG: 19 | Stroke survivors with CI (MCI to mild dementia) IG: 61 [57, 69] CG: 66 [61, 69] | 14Â days | Therapy app | Computer correction application to improve attention, memory, and visual and spatial gnosis | Conventional rehabilitation program |