Exploring the opportunities of home-based upper-limb rehabilitation technology for the stroke patients in Bangladesh

Rony, Rahat Jahangir ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5788-2145 2026. Exploring the opportunities of home-based upper-limb rehabilitation technology for the stroke patients in Bangladesh. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

Stroke often results in upper limb (UL) disabilities among people, which severely impacts their ability to perform daily activities and increases reliance on family caregivers. This underscores the need for effective long-term upper-limb rehabilitation (ULR) solutions. In lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) like Bangladesh, access to rehabilitation services is often limited by resource constraints and high costs. While home-based technology holds promise for enhancing ULR, many existing options are either expensive or too complex for users in LMICs. Wearable technologies offer an accessible alternative; however, they often fail to account for the specific needs of users and caregivers in these regions. Utilising a user-centred design process to understand potential users’ perceptions and involving them in design is crucial, particularly given their potential unfamiliarity with technology and limited involvement in the design process. My research in Bangladesh included interviews with stroke patients, caregivers, and physiotherapists, revealing the emotional burdens and motivations for UL recovery among patients, as well as the dual roles of caregivers, often burdened by financial and physical constraints. Physiotherapists encountered logistical challenges yet remained committed to promoting home-based movements. Next, co-design workshops with caregivers and physiotherapists revealed ideas for a wearable device tailored to home-based ULR. Physiotherapists emphasised the need for professional oversight, while caregivers focused on reducing their physical workload of maintaining patients’ home exercises. This led to the development of the FlexAid V1.0 wearable, which detects and assesses UL movements, providing real-time feedback. Evaluation sessions with patients and caregivers revealed that FlexAid was more comfortable and user-friendly than traditional devices. Therefore, my research highlights the importance of users’ perceptions of how they envision home-based ULR technology being adopted. In addition, it highlights the importance of user involvement in the design of ULR technologies and presents a user-friendly wearable that could support ULR for stroke patients in LMICs.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Schools > Computational & Mathematical Sciences
Subjects:	Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA75 Electronic computers. Computer science
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	21 August 2026
Date of Acceptance:	18 August 2026
Last Modified:	25 Aug 2026 10:06
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/189112

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