The idea for trAIn@home emerged in 2024 with Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences researchers Karin Gerrits and Kristel Lankhorst, through their shared board work for the professional association Aandachtsgroep Inspanningsfysiologie in de Revalidatie. They observed that physiotherapists have a clear view of patients during exercise therapy sessions, but that what happens at home remains largely invisible. The comparison with elite sport provided inspiration: in that field, athletes are continuously monitored using advanced sensors and measurement equipment, so that decisions on training, intensity, and rest are made on the basis of data. Together with VU Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, and medtech company Orikami, a three-year research project has been launched, funded by the RehabAI@Home grant programme of Health Holland.

The transition from intensive clinical supervision to home-based rehabilitation is a vulnerable moment for many people with acquired brain injury. Erwin van Wegen, associate professor of Neurorehabilitation at Amsterdam UMC, notes that people at this stage lack personalised advice, are uncertain about how much physical load they can handle, and as a result become demotivated. Generic solutions offer only limited support, as every body responds differently to brain injury and recovery. Floor Hettinga, professor of movement sciences at VU Amsterdam, emphasises that a personalised approach enables more targeted work as well as preventive action, rather than exclusively curative care.

The platform collects objective data through wearables, sensor technology, and an app. Heart rate, activity level, oxygen uptake, exertion score, and rest and sleep quality are all made visible. A central metric is training readiness: the level of exertion a person can handle at a given moment. The AI analyses all the data and translates it into personalised insights for the therapist and concrete coaching for the patient. This shifts the work of healthcare professionals from reactive to proactive, allowing them to spend their time on more patients and more complex issues.