The effect of motor learning-based telerehabilitation on quality of life of children with cerebral palsy during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

BackgroundDuring the pandemic, the access of children with cerebral palsy (CP) to rehabilitation services was adversely affected due to the significant risk of infection. AimsWe assessed whether the effect of a motor learning-based treatment provided via a telerehabilitation method on the quality of life of children with cerebral palsy during the COVID-19 period was equivalent to face-to-face treatment. MethodsDistance exercises were explained by a physiotherapist to the patients in the telerehabilitation group, and motor learning-based treatment was applied by their families; the physiotherapist followed the sessions with video conferencing. Motor learning-based treatment was offered to the face-to-face group by a physiotherapist in the clinic. ResultsIn the comparison between the groups, there was a significant difference in the parameters of play activities, pain-hurt, fatigue, eating activities, and speech communication activities after treatment (p<0.05). However, in the test performed by considering the nonhomogeneous parameters before the treatment, no time-dependent difference was found in the repeated measurements before and after the treatment in all parameters (p>0.05). ConclusionMotor learning-based treatment provided using the telerehabilitation method has a positive effect on the quality of life of children with CP, but the results are similar to face-to-face treatment.