Chapter 22 - Telerehabilitation for Exercise in Neurological Disability

Abstract

Enhancing physical activity levels is crucial to maintain and improve health in individuals with neurological disabilities. This chapter examines the current literature regarding the effectiveness of home-based telerehabilitation (TR) exercise studies on health outcomes and explores the potential impact of technological advances in the field of TR. The current evidence suggests TR programs can facilitate both endurance and resistance exercise programs that are safe, feasible, and effective at increasing physical activity levels while improving muscular strength, body composition, and quality of life in persons with neurological disabilities. Although TR cannot replace interventions that require conventional face-to-face therapy, technological advances and information communication technology have made TR a more robust, accessible, convenient, and economical alternative. While there are limitations, these programs can provide lifelong care for individuals with a chronic disability with the goal of overall mental-medical wellness and optimizing functional mobility. Moreover, promising technological advances, including powered exoskeletons, virtual reality, brain-computer interface, and motorized orthoses, may offer the potential for pairing with telerehabilitation programs for individuals with neurological disabilities. Overall, there is a need for large randomized controlled trials to further assess the efficacy of home-based TR exercise programs, especially those that investigate new technologies in a home-based telerehabilitation format.