Development of an iOS app for facial exercises in the sense of a neuro-muscular training for patients with facial nerve paresis

Introduction:

Facial nerve paresis is associated with significant physical and psychosocial impairments for affected patients. As part of the usually interdisciplinary therapy concept, the patient is offered a facial training in addition to causal and symptomatic treatment options. This enfolds functional motor exercises for the facial muscles in the sense of a neuro-muscular training. However, the exercise sheets currently in use are often of moderate quality and associated with low compliance. This circumstance inspired the idea of developing an iOS app for facial exercises.

Material & Methods:

Following the decision to use a native app architecture on iOS, the app's content and layout were conceptualized. The core of the app is represented by a training mode with stepwise instructions on facial exercises with visual feedback via the front camera of the iPhone or iPad. Programming in Swift and Objective-C and the design of the graphical user interface took place in the development environment Apple Xcode using various open source frameworks.

Results:

After developing a working app prototype, it was successfully tested on both physical and virtual devices. Great attention has been laid to information on liability provisions and data protection in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation.

Discussion:

From our point of view, the usage of an app for facial exercises offers high potential to motivate patients to a higher therapy adherence. After completion of the development, an evaluation of the app's effectiveness in a clinical trial is planned.

Dr. med. Johannes Taeger

Uniklinikum Würzburg, HNO,

Josef-Schneider-Straße 11, 97080

Würzburg

Email: [e-mail]

Publication History

Publication Date:
23 April 2019 (online)