The research concentrates on patients who receive medical treatment for cancer and are not able to visit a physiotherapist because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marijke Leeuwerk (Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc), a researcher working on the project: ‘The goal of this project is that physiotherapists can safely guide patients remotely using an e-health application.  

'We use an app in which the physical activity of a patient is mapped using an accelerometer, so that the patients can monitor themselves, which is very motivating. The guidance takes place at a distance. In addition, a heart rate monitor was used. '

The physiotherapist can watch the heartbeat live and how active the patient is and can adjust his treatment or advice accordingly. It motivates to take a step further tomorrow. That is what we want to achieve, stimulating self-management. This is really tailored guidance.

These patients fall under the at-risk group at the time of COVID -19 and can often not be supervised on location. This project allows patients to be supervised in a safe way by the physiotherapist.

Colleagues from REACH (a research program that develops, tests and implements a physiotherapy program for post IC patients, Amsterdam UMC, location AMC) will now use this app for COVID-19 patients who have been admitted to monitor vital functions, because it is still unclear what residual damage remains'.