JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies

Chest injuries are a leading cause of death and disability, accounting for 10% of hospital admissions and 25% of injury-related deaths. About two-thirds of patients with thoracic injuries experience complications such as blood or air in the pleural space, causing lung deflation and poor gas exchange. Proper breathing management, using tools like incentive spirometers, improves lung function and recovery. However, there is a gap in mobile-based gaming apps designed for lung exercise, which could benefit both the general population and patients recovering from lung injuries.

Persistent difficulties with social skills form part of the diagnostic criteria for autism and in the past have required Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) management. However, many Speech and Language Therapists are moving towards neuro-affirmative practices, meaning that social skills approaches are now becoming redundant. Research demonstrates that Virtual Reality (VR) interventions have shown promise in overcoming challenges and promoting skill generalisation for autistic children, however the majority of these focus on social skills interventions. While VR is emerging as an SLT intervention, its application for autism remains unexamined in clinical practice. Therefore, this research examines SLTs knowledge and attitudes towards VR as an intervention for autistic children and explores the reasons for its limited integration into clinical practice.

Traditional rehabilitation programs for children with cerebral palsy and acquired brain injuries aim to enhance motor and cognitive abilities through repetitive exercises, which are often perceived as tedious and demotivating. Extended reality technologies, including augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality, offer more engaging methods through exergames. However, to date, no AR exergames simultaneously integrate cognitive and motor aspects within navigational tasks. Developing these exergames necessitates rigorous methodological steps, especially when using emerging technologies such as AR. The MIDE (Multidisciplinary Iterative Design of Exergames) framework advocates a participatory design approach, involving users from the outset, the objective being to optimize the interface and validate game mechanics through user experience (UX) assessment. Some researchers initially test these mechanisms on healthy children before applying them to clinical populations.

Children with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as cerebral palsy (CP), often experience motor impairments in manual dexterity, which hinder daily tasks and social interactions. Traditional rehabilitation methods require repetitive task practice, which can be difficult for children to sustain due to low engagement. Game-based rehabilitation devices and robots offer a promising alternative by combining therapy with digital play, improving motivation and compliance. However, many systems fail to incorporate actual object manipulation, which is essential for motor learning through sensory feedback. To address this limitation, a low-cost, easy-to-use robotic manipulandum device (RMD) was developed. The RMD enables real-time object manipulation during gameplay while providing assistive force, allowing the practice of a wide range of manual dexterity skills beyond gross reaching. This system offers an engaging and effective rehabilitation approach to enhance hand function in children with CP.

A low-cost home-exercise system called VestAid has been developed to assist participants during vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR x1) gaze stabilization exercises outside of clinic visits. The system includes a tablet-based app for the participant and a web-based portal for the physical therapist that provides data to make judgements about exercise accuracy and performance.

Forearm, wrist, and hand impairments affect many individuals and impose a significant economic burden on healthcare systems. The FEPSimTM (flexion, extension, pronation, and supination) is designed for hand and wrist rehabilitation. It could become part of the standard care for upper extremity rehabilitation, aiming to improve range of motion, dexterity, and strength during therapeutic activities. However, the FEPSimTM has not yet been tested in a healthcare setting, highlighting the need for a trial to assess its effectiveness in upper extremity rehabilitation.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes debilitating secondary conditions such as severe muscle deterioration, cardiovascular, and metabolic dysfunctions, significantly impacting patients' quality of life. Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) combined with cycling exercise (FES-cycling) has shown promise in improving muscle function and health in individuals with SCI.

Health care is shifting toward 5 proactive approaches: personalized, participatory, preventive, predictive, and precision-focused services (P5 medicine). This patient-centered care leverages technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI)–powered robots, which can personalize and enhance services for users with disabilities. These advancements are crucial given the World Health Organization’s projection of a global shortage of up to 10 million health care workers by 2030.

Web-based concussion self-management education programs for adolescents can improve functional outcomes, reduce concussion symptoms, and increase self-efficacy. However, there are a limited number of studies examining the perceptions and acceptance of these programs and the use of these tools in the adult concussion population.

Stationary bikes are used in numerous rehabilitation settings with most offering limited functionalities and types of training. Smart technologies, such as artificial intelligence and robotics, bring new possibilities to achieve rehabilitation goals. However, it is important that these technologies meet the needs of users in order to improve their adoption in current practice.

Evidence suggests that individuals with motor neuron disease (MND), a terminal illness, find enjoyment and social connection through video games. However, MND-related barriers can make gaming challenging, exacerbating feelings of boredom, stress, isolation, and loss of control over daily life.

Cognitive frailty is known to be associated with both nutrition and cognitive training. However, effective treatments that engage older adults with cognitive frailty in both the Mediterranean diet and cognitive training are lacking.