An Exercise-Based Precision Medicine Tool and Smartphone App for Managing Achilles Tendinopathy (the 'PhysViz'...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitation Science
• Digital Health

Background:

• Achilles tendinopathy (AT) causes persistent pain, impacting daily life and mental health.
• Current treatments for AT have variable success, often leading to chronic conditions and reinjury.
• High-magnitude precision loading shows promise but faces clinical application challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate PhysViz, a novel remote rehabilitation intervention for AT management.
• To utilize the Framework for Accelerated and Systematic Technology-Based Intervention Development and Evaluation Research (FASTER) in the design process.
• To create a user-centered technology addressing challenges in AT rehabilitation.

Main Methods:

• Employed a user-centered design approach following the FASTER development phases (empathize, define, ideate, prototype, test).
• Engaged a multidisciplinary team including patients with AT, clinicians, and engineers.
• Integrated needs assessments, surveys, literature reviews, validation studies, and usability testing.

Main Results:

• Developed a working PhysViz prototype, including a physical exercise tool and software (mobile app, web application).
• Incorporated user-desired features: precision load monitoring, customizable exercises, and pain tracking.
• Enabled remote visualization of patient data and exercise prescription adjustments by clinicians.

Conclusions:

• PhysViz represents a systematic, multidisciplinary approach to remote AT rehabilitation using the FASTER framework.
• The intervention addresses key AT challenges, offering precision loading and enhanced therapeutic exercise engagement.
• Positive user and clinician feedback suggests PhysViz's potential to improve AT management and serve as a model for other conditions.