JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies

Tetraplegia imposes significant challenges on affected individuals, caregivers, and health care systems. Assistive technologies (ATs) such as assistive robotic arms have been shown to improve the quality of life of persons with tetraplegia, fostering independence in daily activities and reducing caregiver burden. Despite potential benefits, the integration of AT innovations into daily life remains difficult. Implementation science offers a systematic approach to bridge this know-do gap.

In recent years, there has been increasing demand for markerless motion capture systems, which are being widely used in biomechanical and clinical research. Moreover, by using markerless motion capture systems in a laboratory environment that mimics living spaces, the data acquired on various activities of daily living (ADLs), such as level walking, ramp walking and stair ascent/descent, should more closely resemble that of real-life activities. However, the absolute reliability of gait parameters in this context is still unclear.

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) requires long-term treatment that faces significant barriers, including inadequate physiotherapy services, especially in Slovenia and comparable European countries. Mobile health applications offer a promising solution to improve accessibility and adherence to KOA treatment.

In 2023, the National Clinical Guidelines for Stroke revised the recommended daily multidisciplinary therapy dose from 45 minutes to 3 hours. To monitor the achievement of these guidelines there is a need for accurate measurement. This study introduces a novel co-designed digital dosage tracking system that utilises Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to log rehabilitation activities and demonstrates its feasibility and accuracy in a clinical setting through comparison with the current clinical method of manual recording.

Chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) impacts around 20% of people globally resulting in patients living with pain, fatigue, restricted social and employment capacity, and reduced quality of life. Interdisciplinary multimodal pain treatment (IMPT) programs have been shown to provide positive and sustained outcomes where all other interventions have failed. IMPT programs combined with multidimensional machine learning predictive patient profiles aim to improve clinical decision support and personalized patient assessments, potentially leading to better treatment outcomes.

Background: The number of patients undergoing open-heart surgery (OHS) is persistently increasing. Additionally, postoperative pulmonary complications have been reported after OHS, and an incentive spirometer (IS) has been suggested to prevent postoperative pulmonary complications. However, no commercial IS provides the precise inhalation volume. We developed a digital IS (DIS) that displays the relevant data.

Stroke often leads to long-term effects on daily activities and participation. Consequences impact not only stroke survivors but also their close networks, and capturing their experiences is crucial for the development of effective interventions. F@ce 2.0 is a person-centered, ICT-supported stroke rehabilitation intervention currently being evaluated.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, telerehabilitation was critical to providing ongoing care for people with impairments or disabilities, and it remains frequently used and popular after the pandemic. Telerehabilitation has been shown to be feasible and effective in a variety of conditions, including chronic heart failure and coronary artery disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injuries, with adverse events being rare. This editorial identifies important areas and future directions for the field, including implementation considerations in the postpandemic context, issues of access and equity, and emerging innovations and personalized care. The development and implementation of this knowledge will ensure that individuals with disabilities and impairments will continue to receive effective, safe, and person-driven care remotely.

Effective communication is essential for human interaction; yet, infants can only express their needs through various types of suggestive cries. Traditional approaches of interpreting infant cries are often subjective, inconsistent, and slow, leaving gaps in timely, precise caregiving responses. A precise interpretation of infant cries can potentially provide valuable insights into the infant’s health, needs, and well-being, enabling prompt medical or caregiving actions.

Wheelchairs are assistive mobility devices known to suffer frequent part failures and breakdowns within 6 months of regular use. No tools or technologies exist to monitor wheelchairs' condition or usage and inform stakeholders and users regarding when or how often they need to undergo servicing to avoid critical part failure.

Mainstream smart home technologies (MSHTs), such as home automation devices and smart speakers, are becoming more powerful, affordable, and integrated into daily life. While not designed for individuals with disabilities, MSHT has the potential to serve as assistive technology to enhance their independence and participation.

Cardiac telerehabilitation (CTR) interventions can provide accessible and affordable remote rehabilitation services. However, as cardiac rehabilitation (CR) primarily targets inactive patients, little is known about the experiences with CR of highly active patients (ie, recreational athletes or, simply, athletes) with established coronary artery disease. Consequently, existing CTR interventions do not address the specific needs of the athletic subpopulation. Understanding the needs and values of athletes is crucial for designing meaningful CTR interventions that enhance user acceptance and engagement, thereby facilitating effective rehabilitation for this patient subgroup.