Telerehabilitation System for Personalized Exercise Engagement of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Personalized exercise interventions comprising aerobic, resistance and corrective therapeutic components were shown to result in endurance and strength improvement and reduction of fatigue and spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). However, telerehabilitation support of multipronged exercise programs in PwMS has received limited attention. The goal of this project was to introduce telerehabilitation support of individualized multipronged exercise programs and to assess feasibility assessment of the initial prototype in PwMS. Feasibility was assessed in 10 PwMS who were asked to perform a standardized set of tasks essential for using the telerehabilitation system independently and score each task. Our results indicated high level of acceptance of the system by these patients. On average, it took about 1-2 minutes for the patients to complete the study tasks essential for system operation. They were able to successfully use the system and follow their individualized exercise prescription. The resulting system will have to undergo a definitive systematic evaluation in a randomized controlled trial to demonstrate its clinical impact.

[1]  Joseph Finkelstein,et al.  Web-based monitoring of asthma severity: a new approach to ambulatory management , 1998, Proceedings. 1998 IEEE International Conference on Information Technology Applications in Biomedicine, ITAB '98 (Cat. No.98EX188).

[2]  P. Adeleine,et al.  Early clinical predictors and progression of irreversible disability in multiple sclerosis: an amnesic process. , 2003, Brain : a journal of neurology.

[3]  M. Filipi,et al.  Improvement in strength following resistance training in MS patients despite varied disability levels. , 2011, NeuroRehabilitation.

[4]  Joseph Finkelstein,et al.  Acceptance of home telemanagement is high in patients with multiple sclerosis. , 2007, AMIA ... Annual Symposium proceedings. AMIA Symposium.

[5]  McKenzie Bedra,et al.  Defining Patient-Centered Characteristics of a Telerehabilitation System for Patients with COPD , 2013, ICIMTH.

[6]  Joseph Finkelstein,et al.  Using Qualitative Research Methods to Improve Home Telemonitoring , 2001, AMIA.

[7]  I. Lamers,et al.  Endurance training is feasible in severely disabled patients with progressive multiple sclerosis , 2014, Multiple sclerosis.

[8]  Jeffrey Wood,et al.  Design and implementation of Home Automated Telemanagement system for patients with multiple sclerosis. , 2009, Conference proceedings : ... Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual Conference.

[9]  Joseph Finkelstein,et al.  Acceptance and expectations of information technology to support hypertension self-care in African Americans: a qualitative inquiry. , 2007, AMIA ... Annual Symposium proceedings. AMIA Symposium.

[10]  Jeffrey Wood,et al.  Implementing physical telerehabilitation system for patients with multiple sclerosis , 2011, 2011 4th International Conference on Biomedical Engineering and Informatics (BMEI).

[11]  J. Finkelstein,et al.  Feasibility of computer-assisted education in patients with multiple sclerosis , 2004 .

[12]  Jeffrey Wood,et al.  Design and Implementation of Home Automated Telemanagement System for Patients with Ulcerative Colitis , 2009, 2009 International Conference on eHealth, Telemedicine, and Social Medicine.

[13]  C. S. Pruette,et al.  Feasibility of a mobile blood pressure telemanagement system in children with hypertension , 2013, 2013 IEEE Point-of-Care Healthcare Technologies (PHT).

[14]  Joseph Finkelstein,et al.  Challenges in the design of a Home Telemanagement Trial for patients with ulcerative colitis , 2009, Clinical trials.