Table 7 Summary table of the results and the principles of effective face-to-face interventions (education and stroke rehab therapy) used in the beneficial mobile app types for each stroke impairment and functional outcome
From: Effect of mobile application types on stroke rehabilitation: a systematic review
| Â | Â | Summary | Principles of effective education | Principles of effective face-to-face stroke rehab therapy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Stroke impairments | Motor paresis | 11 studies explored motor paresis metrics after use of a therapy app, rehab videos, reminders, or a combination of rehab videos with reminders. Only 8 studies (4 RCTs) demonstrated an improvement in motor paresis. Of the mobile app types, therapy apps had the most significant positive impact. The therapy apps were designed for users to focus on repetitive motor movements through interactive activities, often as games | Repetition Interactivity Practice exercises | Massed practice Task-specific practice Goal-oriented practice Constraint-induced therapy Social interaction |
Aphasia | 6 studies (no RCTs) explored aphasia recovery after use of a therapy app and all the studies showed an improvement in aphasia recovery. The therapy apps had users practice expressive and receptive communication by completing tasks with visual cues and auditory prompts | Interactivity Practice exercises | Task-specific practice Goal-oriented practice Rhythmic cueing Multisensory stimulation Constraint-induced therapy | |
Neglect | 2 studies explored the impact on neglect after use of a therapy app and 0 studies showed a significant benefit | N/A | N/A | |
Functional outcomes | Adherence to exercise | 7 studies explored adherence to exercise after use of a therapy app, rehab videos, reminders, or a combination of rehab videos with reminders. Only 4 studies (2 RCTs) showed an improvement in adherence to exercise, with rehab videos of repeated exercises having the most significant and consistent impact. The other app types showed limited or mixed results. 2 studies that showed a positive adherence to exercise included a feedback feature from other users | Repetition Feedback Practice exercises Social learning | Social interaction Massed practice Task-specific practice Goal-oriented practice Feedback |
Activities of daily living | 10 studies explored activities of daily living after use of therapy app, education app, rehab video, reminders, or rehab videos with reminders. The results were mixed as only 4 studies (1 RCT) demonstrated benefit. The 1 RCT that showed significance had a chat messenger with other users for group interaction and feedback | Interactivity Feedback Social learning | Social interaction Feedback | |
Quality of life | 5 studies explored quality of life after use of therapy apps, education app, or reminders. The results were mixed as only 2 studies (1 RCT) demonstrated benefit. The 1 RCT that showed significance had a chat messenger with other users for group interaction and feedback | Interactivity Feedback Social learning | Social interaction Feedback | |
Secondary stroke prevention | 7 studies explored secondary stroke prevention after education apps, reminders, or rehab videos with reminders. Only 2 studies (0 RCTs) demonstrated a significant impact on select measured outcomes | N/A | N/A | |
Depression and anxiety | 2 studies explored the impact on depression and anxiety after use of a therapy app or reminders. 0 studies showed a significant benefit | N/A | N/A |