FisioCare Neurogroup: A new application for home monitoring of individuals with neurological diseases

Objective: The objective of this study was to develop a smartphone application (app) that will be programmed with home exercises for the patient to perform. Methods: The present app was developed in five stages: (1) Software content analysis and setting of objectives, (2) Preliminary layout, (3) Development of the prototype, (4) Testing the prototype, and (5) Finalisation. All stages were conducted by two physiotherapist researchers with at least 10 years of experience. Results: In the first stage, the app named FisioCare Neurogroup was established with one interface for the physiotherapist and one for the patient. Ten physiotherapists assessed the preliminary layout in the second stage, and after the prototype was developed in the third stage, it was tested by another 10 physiotherapists with their respective neurological patients in the fourth stage. Most physiotherapists reported ease of use, with no adjustments proposed at the end. Finally, the app was finalized in the fifth stage. The proposed app allows the physiotherapist to register a specific exercise program for each patient to be carried out at home. The patient will be able to access the program described and demonstrated in detail. The app will notify both the patient of the need to perform the activities and the physiotherapist of the patient’s performance of the exercises. Conclusion: The FisioCare Neurogroup was developed according to standardized protocols that are highly recommended for this purpose. This app may improve the performance of the patient in the home exercises, as well as their autonomy, by monitoring the adherence of the patient to the protocol proposed.