Mobile phone app to help Derbyshire patients with hand injuries
The innovative programme uses training videos to demonstrate a range of exercises aimed at rehabilitating hand, wrist, shoulder and elbow injuries.
The app – which is the first of its kind – was thought up by Laura Parker, pictutred, senior physiotherapist at the Royal Derby Hospital’s Pulvertaft Hand Unit.
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Hide AdLaura worked on the app – called CORE Hand - in her spare time, filming and editing the training videos, writing the text and designing the look of
the programme. After gaining support from a Derby software developer,
she oversaw the development of a prototype and now hopes to release the finished app in the next few months.
Laura said: “Currently we use a set of paper handouts but these can prove confusing for some patients.
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Hide Ad“There are more than 170 videos on the app, each one a different exercise,
which is much more instinctive for patients. The app can be used on their phones, so they will have it with them when they need it.”
Once a program is set by a hand therapist the patients can select their individualised program via clear menus and then view a series of videos,
talking them through exercises which will aid their rehabilitation.
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Hide AdThe software can also be set to sound alarms when exercises should be performed and offers simple, clear explanations about numerous conditions.
She said: “It will be free to patients, but they will only be able to access it through the Derby Hand Therapy Team, who can provide them with a
password.
“At the moment it is only for Apple devices but we are looking at expanding it
across other platforms.”