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Updated: Dec 13, 2025
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Mobile Game-based Virtual Reality Program for Upper Extremity Stroke Rehabilitation
Published on: March 8, 2018
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In-Home Rehabilitation Using a Smartphone App Coupled With 3D Printed Functional Objects: Single-Subject Design Study
Jeanne Langan1, Sutanuka Bhattacharjya2, Heamchand Subryan3
1Department of Rehabilitation Science, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States.
JMIR Mhealth and Uhealth
|July 25, 2020
Summary
mRehab, a smartphone-based program, improved upper limb mobility and function in individuals with chronic stroke. This mobile health solution supports home-based rehabilitation and offers insights into program effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Digital Health
Background:
- Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability, with limited options for functional recovery across the lifespan.
- Mobile health (mHealth) solutions offer a promising avenue to address the gap in long-term stroke rehabilitation.
- The mRehab system was developed to facilitate home-based exercise programs and provide performance feedback for stroke survivors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of the mRehab system for improving upper limb mobility in individuals with chronic stroke at home.
- To assess whether improvements in limb mobility achieved through mRehab translate to standardized clinical assessments.
Main Methods:
- mRehab utilizes a smartphone app with 3D-printed household items (mug, bowl, key, doorknob) for task-oriented activities.
- The app guides users through activities, measures performance (time, smoothness, accuracy), and provides feedback.
- A single-subject experimental design involved 18 participants undergoing a 6-week home program with pre- and posttesting, including clinical assessments and mRehab data collection.
Main Results:
- 16 participants completed the study, demonstrating adherence to the mRehab program.
- Significant improvements were observed in object transportation task completion time and movement smoothness (P=.02 and P=.003, respectively).
- Clinical assessments revealed significant gains in functional performance and hand dexterity (P=.02 for both).
Conclusions:
- The mRehab system facilitated improvements in upper limb mobility among individuals with chronic stroke, despite variations in usage.
- Smartphone-based technology is effective for supporting home-based rehabilitation programs for chronic conditions like stroke.
- Performance data collected from home rehabilitation provides valuable insights into the impact of such programs on patient outcomes.
