Digital Interventions for Post-Stroke Rehabilitation: A Scoping Review of Delivery Method, Content, and Outcome
Year: 2026
Type: review
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: Background: Digital technologies are increasingly used to extend post-stroke rehabilitation and recovery support beyond conventional face-to-face services. However, the evidence remains heterogeneous in delivery, intervention content, and outcomes assessed. Purpose: To map the delivery method, intervention content, and reported outcomes of digital interventions supporting post-stroke rehabilitation and recovery. Methods: This scoping review followed the Arksey and O'Malley framework and PRISMA-ScR. PubMed, Scopus, EBSCOhost, Taylor and Francis Online, and ScienceDirect were searched, with the final search conducted on 26 January 2026, supplemented by manual searches of relevant reference lists. Eligible studies included adults aged ≥18 years post-stroke and digital interventions supporting rehabilitation or recovery. We extracted and analyzed 21 source-verified studies descriptively and narratively. Results: Delivery methods were mapped using a two-dimensional framework. Based on the level of professional interaction, studies were classified as clinician-supported remote rehabilitation (n=8), hybrid or clinician-facilitated digital rehabilitation (n=9), or primarily self-directed or patient-facing interventions (n=4). The technological mechanisms were considered non-mutually exclusive and included digital content or applications, telecommunication, virtual reality or exergaming, wearable or motion-sensing technologies, physiological monitoring, automated feedback or cueing, and remote data monitoring. Intervention content was mapped to motor and mobility exercises, stroke education and self-management, balance and postural training, and task-oriented training or occupational therapy; one study reported remote functional assessment rather than active rehabilitation content (n=1). Reported outcomes were categorized into physical and functional outcomes; emotional, behavioral, and patient-reported outcomes; cognitive and knowledge outcomes; and clinical and health outcomes. Conclusion: Digital post-stroke interventions comprise diverse combinations of professional support, technological mechanisms, rehabilitation content, and outcomes. The evidence is best interpreted as a descriptive map rather than confirmation of effectiveness. Future studies should more clearly specify intervention components, standardize outcome assessment where appropriate, and examine long-term feasibility, accessibility, and scalability.
DOI: 10.2147/jmdh.s629116
Institution: Padjadjaran University
Language: English
Subfield: Rehabilitation
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,836
OpenAlex ID: W7223070134