Telerehabilitation for musculoskeletal disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of telerehabilitation for various musculoskeletal disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent musculoskeletal telerehabilitation at a well-established physiotherapy centre in Central India between 1st April – 30th June 2020. A team of two experienced physiotherapists conducted one-on-one video-based physiotherapy sessions for every patient. The main outcome measures included pain reduction using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), functional goals achieved, and patient satisfaction. The effectiveness of treatment was determined based on the change in NPRS scores using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The relationship of percent change in NPRS and the functional score as well as the patient feedback score was obtained using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Results: Of 77 patients who received telerehabilitation during the study period, 31 patients undergoing musculoskeletal rehabilitation who satisfied the eligibility criteria were included. There was a significant reduction in NPRS scores after rehabilitation (P < 0.0001). However, the median number of sessions and the baseline NPRS scores differed insignificantly for various patient characteristics. The distribution of functional score and change in NPRS demonstrated a moderately positive and significant correlation (P = 0.001). The relationship of patient feedback score with the change in NPRS was low positive. Conclusion: Telerehabilitation resulted in significant pain reduction among patients with various musculoskeletal disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic. A positive correlation was demonstrated between change in NPRS scores, patient-reported functional goals, and patient satisfaction. Hence, telerehabilitation provided by a trained physiotherapist can be an effective approach for conservative management of musculoskeletal pain. KEY WORDS: Telerehabilitation, Musculoskeletal disorder, Back pain, COVID-19.