Effectiveness of Digital Rehabilitation (SIMPLI.REHAB) in Hand Arthritis

Summary

This study investigates the effectiveness of SIMPLI.REHAB, a digital tool employed as an interface for administering occupational rehabilitation programs to patients diagnosed with Rheumatoid and Psoriatic Arthritis. Both of these conditions are inflammatory joint disorders capable of causing significant morphofunctional alterations in the hands, especially in their advanced stages. The introduction of digital technology emerges as a complementary tool when implementing rehabilitation programs.

Utilizing a prospective, longitudinal, single-blinded experimental study, 35 patients will be allocated into two groups: one receiving a complementary digital intervention through SIMPLI.REHAB and the other through a conventional rehabilitation program. Each group consists of six patients and the program spans seven weeks, focusing on therapeutic exercises, training in manual dexterity, and motor coordination, among other interventions, led by a Physiatrist.

The study intends to measure outcomes based on functionality scores, pain, disease activity, joint range, grip, pinch strength, and manual dexterity, both before and after each intervention, in order to ascertain the efficacy of integrating dynamic content through the digital tool SIMPLI.REHAB, as a supplementary resource in occupational rehabilitation programs. The potential limitations of the study include potential losses of follow-up and difficulties in assessing adherence to the digital tool precisely. Nonetheless, the digital tool aims to augment functional gains in rehabilitation programs by providing patients with accessible dynamic content of home-based strategies.

Conditions

• Arthritis, Psoriatic
• Arthritis, Rheumatoid
• Deformity, Hand
• Limitation, Mobility
• Hand Arthritis
• Hand Deformity

Interventions

OTHER

Digital Rehabilitation

Participants in this arm will undergo an in-person rehabilitation program coordinated by a Physiatrist and will be able to access home-based rehabilitation strategies through dynamic content provided by SIMPLI.REHAB digital tool.

OTHER

Conventional Rehabilitation

Participants in this arm will undergo an in-person rehabilitation program coordinated by a Physiatrist and will be given home-based strategies in a printed paper brochure.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho, E.P.E.

  lead OTHER_GOV

Principal Investigators

• Eugénio M Gonçalves, MD · Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho, E.P.E.

• Ana M Campolargo, MD · Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho, E.P.E.

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-07-31

Primary Completion

2024-12-31

Completion

2024-12-31

Countries

• Portugal

Study Locations