Modern technology in rehabilitation (FS-12)

MODERN TECHNOLOGY IN REHABILITATION

Ekvall Hansson E¹, McDonough S², Röijezon U³, Helbostad J⁴, Barbabella F⁵¹Lund University, Department of Health Sciences, Lund, Sweden, ²Ulster University, School of Health Sciences, Newtownabbey, Ireland, ³Luleå University of Technology, Department of Health Sciences, Luleå, Sweden, ⁴Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Trondheim, Norway, ⁵Tech4Care srl, Falconara Marittima, Ancona, Italy Learning objectives: 1. After the symposium, the participants will have gained insights about ongoing research concerning the use of modern technology in rehabilitation 2. The participants will also have gained insights about how to use modern technology in research, and its translation into clinical practice pathways. 3. The participants will have gained insight in the possibilities in using modern technology in the prevention of falls, in the prevention of decline in function among older people, and in the management of recovery following a stroke. Description: Learning objective 1: After the symposium, the participants will have gained insights about ongoing research concerning the use of modern technology in rehabilitation
Learning objective 2: The participants will also have gained insights about how to use modern technology in research, and its translation into clinical practice pathways.
Learning objective 3: The participants will have gained insight in the possibilities in using modern technology in the prevention of falls, in the prevention of decline in function among older people, and in the management of recovery following a stroke.
Description: New technology opens new possibilities in the field of prevention and rehabilitation, both in research and in practical use. Wearable sensors such as accelerometers, gyroscopes and insole force inducers, are used for fall risk assessment (Danielsen et al 2016, Pang et al 2018), for fall detection (Schwickert L et al 2013) and for encouragement in rehabilitation programs. There is some evidence that virtual reality and video gaming may be a useful adjunct to stroke rehabilitation for the upper limb (Laver et al 2017) and rehabilitation of fine movements of the hand is possible with the latest sensors (Charles et al 2014); but there is insufficient evidence about the effect on balance and function (Laver et al 2017). Affordable and feasible technology, e.g., from the video gaming industry and improved algorithms for image analyses of video recordings, allow for valid and reliable objective measurements of movement behavior (Röijezon et al 2017). These technologies open up new possibilities for objective clinical assessments as well as feedback based training protocols, including specific methods for proprioception (Clark et al 2015). Mobile health technology like smart phones and smart watches offers new approaches for personalised interventions with feedback on own behavior and has the potential to increase uptake of interventions and change behavior over time (Helbostad et al. 2017).
This focused symposium will present ongoing projects about technology for assessment and rehabilitation of movement disorders, about bringing the lab to the clinic, about using virtual reality in rehabilitation of patients with chronic pain (the VR-RELIEF experience) and of patients with stroke. It will also present an ongoing project concerning mobile health technology to prevent functional decline in old age (The PreventIT project) and in falls prevention (The MoTFall project). Research concerning wearable device for measuring near falls (The Snubblometer®) will also be presented.
Implications / Conclusions: The use of modern technology in the field of physiotherapy is rapidly increasing and it is of uttermost importance that the technology and the interventions used is valid, reliable and has proven effect. Use of such technology also changes the role of the physiotherapist. The symposium will provide insights in ongoing research in the field, insights that will be useful for practitioners considering to use technology in their practice as well as researchers. Implications/conclusions: The use of modern technology in the field of physiotherapy is rapidly increasing and it is of uttermost importance that the technology and the interventions used is valid, reliable and has proven effect. Use of such technology also changes the role of the physiotherapist. The symposium will provide insights in ongoing research in the field, insights that will be useful for practitioners considering to use technology in their practice as well as researchers. Key-words: 1. virtual reality 2. motor control 3. objective assessments Funding acknowledgements: The Snubblometer project has been funded by VINNOVA.