A Resource-Efficient, High-Dose, Gamified Neurorehabilitation Program for Chronic Stroke at Home: Retrospective...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Digital Health

Background:

• Medical guidelines recommend high-dose neurorehabilitation for stroke recovery.
• Therapist availability and delivery costs are significant barriers to implementing recommended doses.
• Most stroke patients receive suboptimal neurorehabilitation doses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore gamified self-training technologies for home-based neurorehabilitation.
• To analyze a real-world enhanced clinical service using remote therapist supervision.
• To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of high-dose, home-based neurorehabilitation.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 17 patients completing a 12-18 week program at home.
• Utilized MindMotion GO gamified-therapy solution for asynchronous patient training.
• Weekly telerehabilitation sessions with remote therapist monitoring and management.
• Assessed training time, clinical outcomes (upper-limb, gait, balance), patient satisfaction, and cost-efficiency.

Main Results:

• High training adherence with an average of 39.7 active training hours, mostly asynchronous (82.2%).
• Significant improvements in upper-limb function (Fugl-Meyer, P<.001) and gait/balance (FGA, BBS, P<.001).
• High patient satisfaction (73.7% satisfied/very satisfied) and reported subjective improvements.
• Cost-effective delivery: US $338 per patient vs. US $1903 for in-person training.

Conclusions:

• Gamified home neurorehabilitation effectively delivers high-dose therapy.
• Training can be decoupled from therapist presence without compromising adherence or outcomes.
• This resource-efficient model complements clinic-based approaches and addresses access barriers.