Clinical Effectiveness of the ReHand App in Hand Rehabilitation After Stroke

Summary

Stroke is the third leading cause of disability worldwide, with the hand being one of the segments whose affectation generates the greatest limitation in functional ability and quality of life. Neurorehabilitation is the most effective therapy as long as it is implemented both in the early (post-hospital stages) and in an intensive approach. However, the resources of healthcare systems are not enough to address the neurorehabilitation needs of patients with hand affectation after stroke. Thus, current scientific literature advocates transferring such rehabilitation to the patient's home through therapeutic exercise programs - whose clinical and economic effectiveness has already been demonstrated - as a way of reducing the consumption of resources. In order to achieve this, telerehabilitation is suggested as one of the most viable formats. However, current telerehabilitation systems such as video games and virtual reality do not provide a fully viable solution, mainly due to the lack of scalability and penetration of the technology, and the lack of a hand specific approach, whose importance is crucial in the recovery of function and autonomy in Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Different articles and reviews confirm the potential of tablet devices to solve these issues given their scalability and the multisensory feedback provided, making possible a more productive and intensive motor training and sensory stimulation in order to optimize cortical reorganization and neuroplasticity after a stroke. Both health professionals and patients have expressed the need for a specific Tablet application for neurorehabilitation of the hand after stroke, that follows the precepts established by the evidence. However, the lack of specific applications for this approach means that existing apps are used as an adaptation. Therefore, we propose the development and preliminary validation of ReHand, the first Tablet application developed according to the needs of healthcare professionals and patients, and the precepts of the most updated scientific literature, which allows the patient to perform an active therapy adapted to its hand limitations, and the healthcare professional to monitor their patient's home performance.

Conditions

• Stroke
• Mobility Limitation
• Neurologic Disorder
• Motor Disorders
• Hand Presentation

Interventions

OTHER

Tablet Application

Participants will receive a tablet app (ReHand) along with face-to-face physiotherapy sessions. The ReHand app includes an exercise program based on current scientific evidence for improving funcional ability and dexterity of the hand with neurological affectation. Those exercises are performed making controlled taps and movements while touching the touchscreen and guided by feedbacks. Also, ReHand app includes a prescription and monitoring web-based system for professionals. Along with this intervention, face-to-face physiotherapy sessions will be performed their respective centres.

OTHER

Conventional Treatment

Participants of this group will receive a home exercise program on paper and face-to-face physiotherapy sessions. This intervention is the conventional approach usually delivered in their respective centres. Those exercises were specifically developed for the rehabilitation of the hand with neurological affectation.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus

  collaborator OTHER

• Centro de Referencia Estatal de Atención Al Daño Cerebral

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Seville

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Pablo Rodriguez · University of Seville

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-01-26

Primary Completion

2022-02-26

Completion

2022-03-26

Countries

• Italy
• Spain

Study Locations