Effectiveness of Wearable Trackers and Telerehabilitation in Cerebral Palsy

Investigation of the Effectiveness of Wearable Activity Trackers and Mobile Application-Supported Telerehabilitation in Individuals With Cerebral Palsy

The inadequate number of rehabilitation sessions and the difficulties in accessing rehabilitation services for people with cerebral palsy result in delayed progress and low levels of physical activity for these people. As a result, it is well known that daily life often hinders the implementation of prescribed home programmes, leading to neglect. In the rehabilitation of people with cerebral palsy, physiotherapists face difficulties in monitoring patients and ensuring compliance with home exercise programmes. Both people with cerebral palsy and their carers often experience dissatisfaction and lack of motivation regarding the monitoring and control of development and activity.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a telerehabilitation programme supported by a mobile application and a wearable activity tracker, in addition to a standard rehabilitation programme, on physical activity levels, quality of life, sleep quality, balance, activity participation and motivation, and patient satisfaction in people with cerebral palsy.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged between 14 and 18 years old
• Diagnosed with cerebral palsy
• Currently enrolled in a regular rehabilitation programme
• Level 1-3 according to Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS)
• No cognitive impairments affecting the understanding of exercise programmes
• Voluntary informed consent to participate
• No recent surgeries (e.g. botox, muscle relaxation) within the past 6 months
• No socioeconomic issues related to the use of smart devices

Exclusion Criteria:

• The impact of recent surgical procedures or medical interventions on physical performance.
• The influence of health conditions that affect the entire body and physical performance.