Reported use of technology in stroke rehabilitation by physical and occupational therapists

Abstract

Purpose: With the patient care experience being a healthcare priority, it is concerning that patients with stroke reported boredom and a desire for greater fostering of autonomy, when evaluating their rehabilitation experience. Technology has the potential to reduce these shortcomings by engaging patients through entertainment and objective feedback. Providing objective feedback has resulted in improved outcomes and may assist the patient in learning how to self-manage rehabilitation. Our goal was to examine the extent to which physical and occupational therapists use technology in clinical stroke rehabilitation home exercise programs.

Materials and methods: Surveys were sent via mail, email and online postings to over 500 therapists, 107 responded.

Results: Conventional equipment such as stopwatches are more frequently used compared to newer technology like Wii and Kinect games. Still, less than 25% of therapists’ report using a stopwatch five or more times per week. Notably, feedback to patients is based upon objective data less than 50% of the time by most therapists. At the end of clinical rehabilitation, patients typically receive a written home exercise program and non-technological equipment, like theraband and/or theraputty to continue rehabilitation efforts independently.

Conclusions: The use of technology is not pervasive in the continuum of stroke rehabilitation.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• The patient care experience is a priority in healthcare, so when patients report feeling bored and desiring greater fostering of autonomy in stroke rehabilitation, it is troubling.

• Research examining the use of technology has shown positive results for improving motor performance and engaging patients through entertainment and use of objective feedback.

• Physical and occupational therapists do not widely use technology in stroke rehabilitation.

• Therapists should consider using technology in stroke rehabilitation to better meet the needs of the patient.

Keywords:

• Stroke
• rehabilitation
• technology
• physical therapy
• occupational therapy
• home exercise program

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Zhenni Li who assisted with management of survey responses.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no declarations of interest.

Additional information

Funding

Partial funding for this project was received from the University at Buffalo Center for Excellence in Home Health and Well-Being through Adaptive Smart Environments.