Tablet Technology for Rehabilitation after Spinal Cord Injury: A Proof-of-Concept

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a damage to the spinal cord resulting in a change, either temporary or permanent, in motor, sensory, or autonomic functions. Patients with SCI usually have permanent and often devastating neurologic deficits and disability. Trunk motor control is crucial for postural stability and propulsion after low thoracic SCI and several rehabilitative strategies are aimed at trunk stability and control. Tablet technology and gaming systems are novel and potentially useful strategies that apply relevant concepts in rehabilitation for these patients. In this study we combined the traditional training of trunk control with exercises administered through two iPad games apps, 2 or 3 times a week. All the participant patients showed increasing game scores during the treatment, as well as increasing Trunk Recovery Scale scores, showing a significant improvement in trunk control. Also the personal judgment of the patients, collected through evaluation questionnaires, was very positive.