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ABSTRACT
Background
Physical activity (PA) is a key health behavior in people with stroke including risk reduction of recurrent stroke. Despite the beneficial effects of PA, many community-dwelling stroke survivors are physically inactive. Information and communication technologies are emerging as a possible method to promote adherence to PA.
Objective
The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a mobile-health (mHealth) App in improving levels of PA.
Methods
Forty-one chronic stroke survivors were randomized into an intervention group (IG) n=24 and a control group (CG) n=17. Participants in the IG were engaged in the Multimodal Rehabilitation Program (MMRP) that consisted on supervising adherence to PA through a mHealth app, participating in an 8-week rehabilitation program that included: aerobic, task-oriented, balance and stretching exercises. Participants also performed an ambulation program at home. The CG received a conventional rehabilitation program. Outcome variables were: adherence to PA, (walking and sitting time/day), walking speed (10MWT); walking endurance (6MWT); risk of falling (TUG); ADLs (Barthel); QoL (Eq-5D5L) and participant’s satisfaction.
Results
At the end of the intervention, community ambulation increased more in IG (38.95 min; SD: 20.37) than in the CG (9.47 min; SD: 12.11) (p≤.05). Sitting time was reduced by 2.96 (SD 2.0) hours/day in the IG and by 0.53 (SD 0.24) hours in the CG (p≤.05).
Conclusions
The results suggest that mHealth technology provides a novel way to promote adherence to home exercise programs post stroke. However, frequent support and guidance of caregiver is required to ensure the use of mobile devices.
Compliance with ethical standards trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03507894.
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Ethical approval
All procedures performed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration. All participants provided written informed consent for the study.
The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03507894.
Informed consent
Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.