SAT0730-HPR DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN OF SMARTPHONE APPLICATION FOR POSTURAL ALIGNMENT OF CERVICAL AND THORACIC SPINE FOR YOUNG ADULTS
Authors: Eda Tonga, Merve Can, Mine Gülden Polat
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2019)

<h3>Background:</h3> Mobile health (mHealth) technologies offer personal, intelligent, cost-effective, access to health care services. Numerous smartphone applications exist to assist the users for management or prevention of the musculoskeletal disorder. But most of the apps were not designed with both users and experts focus. As our knowledge, there is no health exercise app for neck and upper back musculoskeletal prevention designed by experts with the user-centered method. <h3>Objectives:</h3> The aim of our study is to develop a smartphone exercise application (app) for cervical-thoracic postural alignment for young adults. <h3>Methods:</h3> We used a combination method of focus groups interviews and user-centered design approach. The mobile application was designed in three phases: (1) we conducted multidisciplinary focus group meetings to compromise the content, feature and design of app in the first phase (prototype smartphone app\MarNeckEx). Focus group consisted of software developers, 3 experienced physiotherapists on musculoskeletal ergonomics, 3 young smartphone users who have neck and upper back problems associated with an excess smartphone using. The focus group members discussed the variety of topics in subgroups (login parameters, self-monitoring, exercises content, video or animation types, exercise diary, reminders, encouragement method etc). We conducted 4 focus group meeting for phase 1. (2) After developing the prototype version of app 30 young adult downloaded the prototype app and used the app for one week, after one week we asked the satisfaction levels, barriers and facilitators of the app design and advice for usability. We conducted 2 focus group meetings for development of the revised application by modifying the errors taking into account feedbacks (revised MarNeckEx). <h3>Results:</h3> Major themes identified for development app phase 1 were (a) self-assessment of musculoskeletal problems (b) Choosing the spinal stabilization and postural alignment exercises with well design videos (c) encouraging and notifications for exercise adherence. A second phase themes, (d) education for using the digital app for exercise, (e) positive or negative feedback notifications for improving adherence were added. <h3>Conclusion:</h3> We conducted the smartphone-based cervico-thoracic postural alignment exercise app with multidisciplinary and user focus method. Usability of the application should be done before marketing the new mHealth app for exercise. <h3>References</h3> [1] Dicianno, et al. (2015)."Perspectives on the evolution of mobile (mHealth) technologies and application to rehabilitation." Phys Ther 95(3): 397-405. [2] Berolo, S., R. Wells, et al. (2011). Musculoskeletal symptoms among mobile hand-held device users and their relationship to device use: A preliminary study in a Canadian university population. Appl Ergon. 2011 Jan;42(2):371-8 [3] Gustovo C et. Al. (2016) Smartphone apps for the self-management of low back pain: A systematic review. Best Practice and Research in Clinical Rheumatology 30;1098-1109. <h3>Disclosure of Interests:</h3> None declared