Home-Based mHealth Platform (Active-Feet) for Children With Idiopathic Toe Walking: Design, Development, and Acceptability Study.
Miguel Membrilla-Mesa, Jose Heredia-Jiménez, Carla Di Caudo and 8 others
PMID 40857727WHAT IT FOUND
Parents and children with idiopathic toe walking rated a home stretching app as easy to use and acceptable.
It was not tested for improvements in walking, ankle range, or adherence.
Key findings
0120 children with idiopathic toe walking and 20 parents tested the home stretching app for 2 weeks.
02Parents and children rated the app as easy to use and acceptable, with a median score of 4 on several questions.
03The study did not assess whether the app improved adherence or range of motion.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The evaluation included 20 children and 20 parents for 2 weeks. The study used custom questionnaires rather than a standard usability measure, so scores cannot be compared with other apps. It did not measure whether the app improved adherence or range of motion. Exercise accuracy relied on visual observation, not movement-tracking measures. Children's previous knowledge of the exercises was not recorded. It tested only children who could use an Android smartphone with parental support.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat this app as an evidence-based treatment for idiopathic toe walking. It was rated acceptable by users, but the study did not test whether it improves walking, ankle range, or adherence.