EngageHealth: a mobile device application designed to deliver stroke rehabilitation exercises using asynchronous...

Area of Science:

• Neurorehabilitation
• Digital Health
• Stroke Recovery

Background:

• Increased rehabilitation therapy is linked to better functional outcomes for stroke survivors.
• Healthcare system constraints often limit the amount of rehabilitation therapy patients receive.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate EngageHealth, a mobile application delivering stroke rehabilitation exercises via asynchronous video recordings.
• To assess if EngageHealth increases outpatient rehabilitation, improves upper extremity function, and enhances quality of life in stroke patients.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, single-arm study design was employed.
• Participants underwent a 2-week pre-intervention phase followed by a 4-week intervention period using EngageHealth.
• Twenty-four stroke patients with upper extremity impairment were recruited from an ambulatory care setting.

Main Results:

• Participants improved by 4 points on the upper extremity Fugl-Meyer (UE-FM) scale (P < 0.01) and 15 points in the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) hand-function domain (P = 0.03).
• Sixty-three percent of participants would recommend the application, and 50% would continue using it.
• Clinicians could asynchronously review participant exercise videos, with perceived usefulness influencing motivation.

Conclusions:

• The EngageHealth application may enhance upper extremity function in subacute/chronic stroke patients when used at home.
• Future studies require strategies to improve adherence, and a randomized controlled trial is recommended to confirm efficacy.