Table 1.

Review of the literature evaluating the use of iPad devices in stroke neuro-rehabilitation. Presented in order of hierarchy of evidence strength level.

Authors	Study Type	Participants	Objectives Measured	Outcomes
Des Roches et al. (2014) [20]	Case Control trial	51	Effectiveness of iPad-based therapy application (Constant Therapy) on aphasia in patients with stroke and traumatic brain injury	Increased language accuracy and latency Significant improvement in clinical outcomes pre and post therapy Greater patients participation
Kiran et al. (2014) [21]	Prospective Clinical efficacy study	55	Feasibility and efficacy of iPad-based software (Constant Therapy) in delivering continued and individualised post-stroke speech therapy (Home and clinic setting)	Improved task-specific accuracy and latency with iPad use Variable changes in language and cognitive measures Positive attitude from patients completing ‘homework practice’ using iPads following clinic therapy session iPads facilitated continued (long-term) rehabilitation for patients with chronic brain damage
Choi et al. (2016) [22]	Pilot study	8	Feasibility of iPad-base speech therapy application (iAphasia) for post-stroke chronic aphasia	Significant improvement in language function measured by Korean version of Western Aphasia Battery score Improvement was also noticeable during the 1-month follow-up Stroke survivors’ satisfaction was rated as ‘high’
McCormick and Holmes (2016) [23]	Pilot Study	13	Evaluating adherence, retention, usability, and adverse effects of iPad-based application (See, Imagine, Move; Upper Limb Action Therapy (SIMULATe)) for stroke survivors	iPads are feasible and acceptable intervention for post-stroke recovery More than 80% retention rate is reported No adverse effects reported Grip strength improved from 28.3 to 35.7
Stark and Warburton (2016) [24]	Pilot study and crossover design	10	Effectiveness and feasibility of self-delivered iPad-based speech therapy for post-stroke chronic aphasia	Significant improvement on expressive Comprehensive Aphasia Test (CAT) and Cookie Theft Picture Description (CTPD) Patients with lowest CAT baseline score made the greatest post-therapy improvement All patients were compliant with the recommended daily dosage of iPad use (20 min per day) 6 months follow-up on 5 participants showed that acquired improvements were maintained as measured by CTPD
Rand et al. (2013) [25]	Pilot study	22	Feasibility and suitability of iPads to improve post-stroke hand impairment	Control groups performance outweighed post-stroke group Statistically significant correlation between weak hand and hand performance as measured by The Nine Hole Peg Test, Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment, and Box & Block Test using ‘Dexteria-Tap it’ and ‘Fast Tap’ applications No significant improvement for ‘Bowling’ application Short feedback questionnaire highlighted overall positive feedback from stroke patients using iPad-based rehabilitation
Kurland et al. (2014) [26]	Pilot study	8	Effectiveness of iPad use in home setting for chronic post-stroke aphasia following period of inpatient rehabilitation	All patients maintained speech and language goals obtained during inpatient rehabilitation following discharge Patients were able to continue daily SLT exercises and gain new words over 6 months period
Vandermaesen et al. (2014) [27]	Pilot study	5	Upper limbs motor improvement and motivation using tablet-based gaming application (ReHoblet) at home setting	Patients’ acceptance for the use of tablet computers as a rehabilitation tool Improvement in physical abilities and upper limbs motor function
Fizzotti et al. (2015) [28]	Proof-of-concept feasibility study	15	Feasibility of iPad use in rehabilitation	Improvement in trunk recovery scale score Integration with conventional rehabilitation is feasible Positive feedback from patients
Kizony et al. (2016) [29]	Proof-of-concept feasibility study	20	Feasibility of iPad application (Tap-it) in stroke rehabilitation	15/20 stroke patients were able to complete the trial No quantitative data presented Patients enjoyed the experience and felt that iPad use has the potential to improve hand function
White et al. (2014) [30]	Qualitative study	12	Stroke survivor’s perspectives on the use of iPad for therapy using semi structured interview	iPads easy to use Increased engagement and participation in therapy and recreational activities Feasible and acceptable
Suchak et al. (2016) [31]	Service evaluation	9	iPads feasibility, acceptance, and impact on patients’ boredom and social isolation in neuro-rehabilitation unit	iPad devices are feasible to be used in conjunction with conventional neuro-rehabilitation programme Acceptances from both patients and multi-disciplinary team Significant improvement in patients’ boredom and social isolation