Revolutionizing Stroke Management with Wearable Technology: A Narrative Review of Clinical Applications,...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Digital Health

Background:

• Stroke is a major cause of death and disability globally.
• Current stroke care has gaps in prevention, acute treatment, and rehabilitation.
• Wearable technology (WT) offers potential solutions across the stroke care continuum.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the evidence on wearable technology's role in stroke care.
• To identify challenges hindering the equitable implementation of WT in stroke management.
• To synthesize findings on WT applications from prevention through rehabilitation.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar up to December 2024.
• Included 50 studies identified via PRISMA-guided screening.
• Thematic analysis of the selected studies.

Main Results:

• WT aids stroke prevention via physical activity and sleep monitoring, and chronic condition management (hypertension, AF, diabetes).
• WT shows potential in acute care for early detection and remote neurological assessment.
• Wearable sensors, robotics, and VR enhance post-stroke motor recovery, improving gait and upper limb function.
• Key barriers include fragmented evidence, limited RCTs, ethical concerns (privacy, bias), and socioeconomic disparities.

Conclusions:

• Wearable technology has significant potential to improve stroke care outcomes.
• Addressing implementation challenges like data privacy, algorithmic bias, and equitable access is crucial.
• Future efforts should focus on pragmatic trials, standardized protocols, affordable designs, and policies promoting equity in WT adoption for stroke management.