Rehabilitation activities with tablet (REACT) in Parkinson's disease

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Technology
• Digital Health

Background:

• Neural plasticity is use-dependent, requiring intensive practice for modification.
• Home-based rehabilitation is crucial for managing chronic conditions like Parkinson's Disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the usability of the REACT app for assisting People with Parkinson Disease (PwPD) in home-based rehabilitation.
• To evaluate the app's effectiveness in supporting motor and cognitive functions.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study involved 20 PwPD using the REACT app for a 1-month home program.
• The app provided personalized motor exercises, ADL tutorials, and cognitive stimulation.
• System Usability Scale (SUS) was used to assess app usability.

Main Results:

• The REACT app achieved an average SUS score above the "good usability" threshold (>68).
• 47% of PwPD rated the app's usability as "excellent."
• No adverse events were reported during the study.

Conclusions:

• The REACT app is a safe and useful tool for supporting home-based care and treatment continuity for PwPD.
• Further large-scale trials are recommended to confirm the acceptance and efficacy of technology-assisted home rehabilitation.