Abstract

ANGARITA RODRIGUEZ, Diana Cristina  and  CASTANEDA GIAIMO, Jorge Nicolás. Use of mobile devices in physiotherapy. Rev. cuba. inf. cienc. salud [online]. 2017, vol.28, n.2, pp.1-13. ISSN 2307-2113.

The purpose of this review was to identify the current use of mobile applications in physiotherapy. A comprehensive bibliographic review was conducted in four databases, with no language restrictions, in an observation period extending from the year 2010 to June 2016. A total 46 papers were found which dealt with the use of mobile applications in physiotherapy. Based on their purpose, 8 papers were classified as conceptual-descriptive, 1 was a financial analysis, 14 were assessments, 3 had to do with monitoring, and 20 were about interventions. From the point of view of the use of applications, 6 papers were about healthy habits, 3 were informative, 15 were assessments, 4 were about treatment, and 13 dealt with specific applications. Four review papers were also found. It is concluded that there are various uses for mobile applications in physiotherapy. All in all, applications may serve to broaden access to health services, facilitate health promotion, detect specific deficiencies at an early stage, support examination, evaluate certain variables, such as mobility ranges, and evaluate gait and balance, all of which may facilitate therapeutic actions and optimize physical therapist practice.

Keywords : physiotherapy; mobile applications; cell phones; telemedicine.

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