Jonathan Synnott*, School of Computing and Mathematics, University of Ulster, Belfast, United Kingdom Chris Bleakley, Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Institute, University of Ulster, Belfast, United Kingdom Richard Davies, School of Computing and Mathematics, University of Ulster, Belfast, United Kingdom Chris Nugent*, School of Computing and Mathematics, University of Ulster, Belfast, United Kingdom Suzanne McDonough, School of Health Sciences, University of Ulster, Belfast, United Kingdom Track: Practice Presentation Topic: Mobile & Tablet Health Applications Presentation Type: Poster presentation Submission Type: Single Presentation Last modified: 2013-09-25

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Musculoskeletal injuries such as ankle sprains are common and costly, carrying significant risk of persistent disabling symptoms such as pain, instability and recurrent injury. Research has shown that rehabilitation, based on a progressive exercise approach, is an effective method of recovery after an ankle sprain. Current constraints within the Health Service mean that practitioners are unable to invest large amounts of time treating musculoskeletal injuries. Consequently many patients are discharged without comprehensive and directed rehabilitation or exercise advice.

The European Centre for Connected Health has recently highlighted the importance of adapting the Health and Social Care System through the introduction of new technology solutions. In line with this technological paradigm and with the identified constraints of existing clinical practice, this has provided the rationale for the development of a mobile app with the goal of assisting patients and clinicians during ankle sprain management. The app we are developing achieves this goal by providing end users with a library of rehabilitation exercises suitable for prescription after ankle sprain. Based on our previous peer reviewed research, the optimal dose, technique and safe progression of exercises are conveyed through text, images and video clips presented within the app. This information can be transferred to patient users, ensuring a more bespoke and directed rehabilitation programme can be initiated after injury. It is anticipated that this will provide benefits in terms of increasing the capacity for clinicians to transfer important medical evidence to the wider service user population and will ultimately lead to improved recovery and enhanced long-term outcome after soft tissue injury compared to existing clinical practice.

The app development is being undertaken by a team of researchers and academics from a range of disciplines that include computer science, physiotherapy and biomedical engineering. The entire process is overseen by a project steering group that includes physiotherapists, industry experts and connected health academics. The app is initially being developed for the Android platform due to its high market share (70.1% in Q4 of 2012), open platform, wide range of supporting devices and the availability of an online store for publishing. The app is currently in its final stages of development and is due to begin extensive testing and evaluation through an iterative evaluation process. This evaluation process will be divided into three phases. Phase 1 consists of evaluation by technical developers with at least 5 years of experience within Information Technology or related disciplines. The app will then undergo refinement based on feedback received from this phase of testing. Phase 2 will involve evaluation by medical clinicians including active general practitioners and chartered physiotherapists who have a clinical case load including patients with musculoskeletal injury. Finally, Phase 3 will involve testing on a wider clinical population, in particular patients suffering from an ankle sprain, and deployment of the mobile app within an online app store.