PTCase ReportArchives of rehabilitation research and clinical translation2023

Comprehensive Assessment of the Activity Level of the ICF Using Both Capacity and Performance Measures: A Case Report.

Carey L Holleran, Marghuretta D Bland, Catherine E Lang

PMID 37744190

WHAT IT FOUND

Tracking daily steps with a smartwatch helped a patient with Susac syndrome identify barriers like anxiety and sleep.

This guided a self-management plan that improved walking speed and endurance over 4 months.

Key findings

01Activity performance monitoring revealed that anxiety and lack of sleep were symptom-provoking factors that reduced daily activity, leading to referrals for counseling and sleep advice.

02The patient's walking speed and endurance improved over the course of care, with the 10-meter walk speed increasing from 0.79 m/s to 1.15 m/s and the 6-minute walk distance increasing from 371 m to 457 m.

STILL TO COME

How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs

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What it does not show

This is a single case report, so the results cannot be generalized to other patients. The accuracy of the Samsung Galaxy smartwatch for step counting was not established, though the therapist argued it was reasonable given the patient's walking speed. The study did not compare this approach to standard care, so it is unclear if the improvements were due to the specific intervention or natural history.

Declared interests

None reported.

The easy way to misread this

Do not assume that smartwatch step tracking is a validated clinical tool for all patients. The authors note that the accuracy of this specific device was not established and that consumer-grade technology has limitations.

Read it on PubMed →