Mobile applications in children with cerebral palsy

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Rehabilitation Technology
• Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

• Cerebral palsy (CP) is a prevalent developmental disorder.
• Technological advancements are transforming healthcare towards personalized and preventive services.
• Mobile applications (apps) are emerging as valuable tools for managing children with CP.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review published information on mobile applications for cerebral palsy (CP).
• To describe, analyze, and classify apps relevant to CP management.
• To assess the utility of mobile technology in the context of CP.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a systematic literature search for articles (2011-2017) on CP-related or potentially useful applications.
• Searched major mobile application markets for relevant apps.
• Included articles in English or Spanish that presented, analyzed, or validated applications.

Main Results:

• Identified 63 applications across databases and markets.
• Found 40 applications potentially useful for CP.
• Categorized 23 specifically designed apps: 11 for information, 3 for evaluation, and 9 for treatment.

Conclusions:

• Numerous mobile applications are available for CP or have potential utility.
• Despite available apps, the scientific evidence base is limited.
• Low methodological quality of studies prevents generalization of app usage for CP.