Therapeutic Alternatives - Consider Mobile Apps

If you're not already a reader, here's a great website with an RSS feed of regular articles about mobile devices in health care.  There are even some articles about mobile devices and stroke rehabilitation but the list is still too short.  Many still don't consider mobile devices or mobile apps when exploring alternatives for stroke rehabilitation.

The Stroke Wise Blog has a great list of iPad apps that can be used in stroke or TBI rehabilitation- http://strokewise.blogspot.com/search/label/iPads

Also look at what we're doing at the mindMender Project.  Our recent game, Traffic Controller, was developed specifically for stroke and TBI patients by incorporating:

1. Uncluttered and easy to navigate screens
2. User controlled levels of difficulty
3. Graph of scores over time to show progress
4. (Future) Apple Game Center integration
5. (Future) Option to email or print graph showing progress

Successful rehabilitation gives the patient a sense of autonomy, competence and social recognition. Our game is designed so that the patient is in charge by playing the game unassisted.  They can quickly gain competence by choosing the level of play that fits their current skill level.  And lastly, when we incorporate the Apple Game Center in the next release, they will be able to share their scores and accomplishments with other players.

The next time you're looking for therapeutic alternatives think mobile - there might be an app for that.