Telerehabilitation Group Research Articles

Ab. No. 73 Effect of Otago Exercise Program Via Tele Rehabilitation on Fall Risk and Balance in Older People

Introduction: To find the effect of Otago exercise program via telerehabilitation on fall risk and balance in older people. Older people’s falls and fall-related injuries have grown to be major health issue. Otago Exercise Program (OEP) consists of 17 strength and balance exercises and walking program at home, outpatient or community setting that is effective in preventing falls. Telerehabilitation is newer technique of delivery of rehabilitation services over telecommunication networks. Methods: 44 gender-matched participants aged 65-80 (71 + 4.3) years were divided into two groups using simple random sampling. People unwilling to participate were excluded. Ethics approval was obtained. A prospective follow-up study was carried out in community of Ahmedabad. Participants were explained the study. Fall risk was measured using Timed Up and Go(TUG) test and balance was measured using Berg Balance Scale(BBS). Group A (n=22) was given telerehabilitation-based OEP via zoom calls and Group B (n=22) was given unsupervised OEP at home. A total of 12 sessions (3 sessions/week) of OEP and (2 times/week) walking for 4 weeks was administered. Within group analysis for TUG was done using Paired samples T-test and for BBS using Wilcoxon signed rank test. Between group analysis was carried out using Mann-Whitney U test. Level of significance was kept at 5%. Results: Within group analysis showed statistically significant difference in group A TUG (t=14.96, p<0.0001), BBS (Z=-4.135, p<0.0001), in group B TUG (t=3.375, p=0.003), BBS(Z=-3.71, p<0.0001). Between group analysis showed statistically significant difference in BBS (U=34.5, p<0.0001) but not in TUG (U=191.5, p=0.211). Conclusion: Otago Exercise program is effective via telerehabilitation and as home-based program to improve balance and reduce fall risk. Tele-rehabilitation group was more effective in improving balance. Implications: Tele-rehabilitation can be used for older people by providing convenient, one-to-one, accessible healthcare services at home reducing travel.

Effectiveness of tele-rehabilitation in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial.

The primary objective of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of tele-rehabilitation (TR) compared to conventional rehabilitation (CT) in reducing pain (as measured by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale [NPRS]) in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Secondary objectives included assessing changes in physical function and quality of life, as measured by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and the Short Form-36 (SF-36) health survey, respectively. Fifty-five patients diagnosed with knee OA were randomly allocated to either the TR group (n = 29), receiving remote physiotherapy sessions three times a week for four weeks, or the CT group (n = 26), undergoing traditional outpatient rehabilitation with the same exercise regimen. Outcomes were measured at baseline and after a three-month follow-up period. At baseline, there were no significant differences between groups in terms of NPRS and WOMAC scores. After three months, both the CT and the TR groups showed significant improvements in pain reduction (NPRS, p < 0.001), WOMAC score (p < 0.001), and in some subscales of the SF-36 (i.e., physical functioning, role limitation attributable to physical problems, energy, and pain). Tele-rehabilitation is an effective alternative to CT for reducing pain and improving quality of life in patients with knee OA. These findings suggest that TR can be incorporated alongside conventional approaches to provide a comprehensive treatment strategy for managing knee OA, enhancing patient outcomes in various dimensions of well-being. Trial registration NCT05719350; Telerehabilitation in Patients With Osteoarthritis (TABLET).

Comparing Telerehabilitation and In-Person Interventions in School-Based Occupational Therapy for Specific Learning Disorder A Randomized Controlled Trial.

This study investigated the efficacy of telerehabilitation (TR) in school-based Occupational Therapy (OT) for children with Specific Learning Disorder (SLD), focusing on occupational competence and parental satisfaction, aiming to contribute empirical insights to the discourse on the educational well-being of this population. The study adopted a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) design involving 31 children diagnosed with SLD, implementing TR and in-person interventions alongside a control group. Outcome measures included the School Self-Concept Inventory, Child Occupational Self-Assessment (COSA), and Canadian Occupational Performance Measurement (COMP), analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (ANOVA, post hoc tests). Both TR and in-person interventions exhibited significant enhancements in academic self-efficacy (F=23.96, p<0.001, Partial ȵ²=0.461), occupational competence (F=70.59, p<0.001, Partial ȵ²=0.716), and parent satisfaction (F=17.03, p<0.001, Partial ȵ²=0.378) compared to the control group. Notably, no significant differences emerged between the TR and in-person groups, emphasizing their comparable effectiveness in improving outcomes. In conclusion, the study demonstrated the efficacy of TR and in-person interventions in school-based OT for children with SLD. The cohesive outcomes in academic self-efficacy, occupational competence, and parental satisfaction highlight TR as a versatile modality. This research, grounded in robust methodology, encourages further exploration of TR's transformative role in enhancing the holistic well-being of children with SLDs.

Effects of Home-based Remote Cardiac Rehabilitation on Left Ventricular Function and Fear of Exercise in Patients after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI): A Retrospective Cohort Study

Aim: This study aims to explore the effects of home-based remote cardiac rehabilitation on left ventricular function and exercise fear in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: A total of 232 patients with coronary heart disease after PCI treated in Tianshan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital from January 2020 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into the remote rehabilitation group (169 cases) and the routine group (63 cases) according to the exposure factor (home-based remote cardiac rehabilitation). Changes in left ventricular function and sports phobia Tampa Scale in patients with coronary heart disease after PCI were compared using propensity score matching to reduce selection bias and confounding factors. Results: After the intervention, the scores of patients in the tele-rehabilitation group were significantly higher than those in the conventional group in terms of fear of movement, perception of danger, fear of movement, avoidance of movement, and dysfunction (p-value &lt; 0.05). Left heart function was compared between the tele-rehabilitation group and the conventional group. Patients in the tele-rehabilitation group had significantly higher peak mitral valve blood flow in the early diastolic period (E), peak mitral valve blood flow in the late diastolic period (A), six-minute walk test (6MWT), and ratio of the peak mitral valve blood flow in the early diastolic period to the peak mitral valve blood flow in the late diastolic period (E/A) than those in the conventional group (p-value &lt; 0.05). However, the peak deceleration time and isovolumic diastolic time in the early mitral valve diastolic period were significantly higher in the tele-rehabilitation group than in the conventional group (p-value &lt; 0.05). Conclusions: Home-based remote cardiac rehabilitation instruction can improve the heart function and exercise fear state of patients after PCI.

Effectiveness of Telerehabilitation for Correcting Posture in Elderly with Thoracic Kyphosis in Urban Thailand.

Thoracic kyphosis (TK) is an abnormal thoracic spine. Telerehabilitation and conventional physical therapy were compared for correct posture in the thoracic angle, forward head posture, back muscle strength, and cost-effectiveness. Twenty-two Thai women 60 years of age and over, with thoracic angles over 45 degrees, participated in this study. Participants were randomly allocated into a telerehabilitation group (TG) or a control group (CG). TG and CG underwent a thoracic corrective exercise program for 1 hour each session, three times per week for 8 weeks. Thoracic angle, forward head posture, and back muscle strength improved (P < .05) in both groups. Furthermore, cost-effectiveness showed the cost of intervention in TG lower than CG, approximately 133.78 US$. Our study showed no difference in telepractice program efficacy and effectiveness compared to in-person treatment in the clinic. Thus, telerehabilitation may be an alternative treatment for the elderly who cannot travel to the hospital.

The effect of exercise and education combination via telerehabilitation in patients with chronic neck pain: A randomized controlled trial

BackgroundA limited number of studies have investigated the effect of telerehabilitation in individuals with chronic neck pain (CNP). ObjectiveThe study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of holistic exercise and education combination via telerehabilitation on pain, disability, kinesiophobia, exercise adherence, quality of life and patient satisfaction in individuals with CNP. MethodsA two-armed, randomized controlled study was conducted with 40 participants with CNP. Patients were randomized into two groups: Telerehabilitation (TR) (n = 20) and Standard Rehabilitation (SR) (n = 20). The TR group was provided with exercise and education videos online. The same protocol was given to the SR group in the clinical setting. Patients were evaluated at baseline and after eight weeks of intervention. Satisfaction and usability levels of the TR group were assessed at week 8. ResultsTR group demonstrated better improvement in function, quality of life (including bodily pain, general health, social function), kinesiophobia and exercise adherence. The TR group was not superior to the SR group in pain and other quality-of-life subscores. A vast majority of the TR group had high satisfaction and usability. ConclusionComprehensive rehabilitation via TR increases satisfaction and participation in patients with CNP. Besides, TR provides more positive effects on function and kinesiophobia. Further studies should focus on the impact of telerehabilitation on pain and quality of life in CNP with a long-term follow-up.

Tele-rehabilitation on independence in activities of daily living after stroke: A Matched Case-Control Study

ObjectivesTo compare independence in activities of daily living (ADLs) in post-acute patients with stroke following tele-rehabilitation and matched in-person controls. Materials and MethodsMatched case-control study. A total of 35 consecutive patients with stroke who followed tele-rehabilitation were compared to 35 historical in-person patients (controls) matched for age, functional independence at admission and time since injury to rehabilitation admission (<60 days). The tele-rehabilitation group was also compared to the complete cohort of historical controls (n=990). Independence in ADLs was assessed using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and the Barthel Index (BI). We formally compared FIM and BI gains calculated as discharge score - admission scores, efficiency measured as gains / length of stay and effectiveness defined as (discharge score-admission score)/ (maximum score-admission score). We analyzed the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for FIM and BI. ResultsThe groups showed no significant differences in type of stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic), location, severity, age at injury, length of stay, body mass index, diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, aphasia, neglect, affected side of the body, dominance or educational level. The groups showed no significant differences in gains, efficiency nor effectiveness either using FIM or Barthel Index.We identified significant differences in two specific BI items (feeding and transfer) in favor of the in-person group. No differences were observed in the proportion of patients who achieved MCID. ConclusionsNo significant differences were seen between total ADL scores for tele-rehabilitation and in-person rehabilitation. Future research studies should analyze a combined rehabilitation approach that utilizes both models.

A Smartphone Application-Based Remote Rehabilitation System for Post-Total Knee Arthroplasty Rehabilitation: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BackgroundRemote rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty has gradually gained popularity in recent years. This study aimed to determine whether smartphone application-based remote rehabilitation could outperform home-based rehabilitation and outpatient guidance in terms of 12-week outcomes following primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty. MethodsPatients who underwent primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty were recruited and randomly divided into a telerehabilitation group and a control group. A total of 100 patients were examined, with 50 each assigned to the telerehabilitation and control groups. In the telerehabilitation group, a telerehabilitation application was installed on the smartphones of the participants to allow postdischarge guidance. The primary outcomes were knee range of motion (ROM) at 12 weeks postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, Knee Society Score, The Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test (5xSST), Single-Leg Stance Test (SLST), satisfaction, rehabilitation costs, complication rate, and 90-day readmission rate. All outcomes were collected at 2, 6, and 12 weeks after surgery. ResultsAt 12 weeks postoperatively, the telerehabilitation patients significantly outperformed the controls in terms of knee ROM (124 ± 8.7 versus 119 ± 5.5 P = .01), SF-36 (physiological function) (61.5 ± 20.3 versus 45.5 ± 18.1 P = .000), SF-36 (role-physical) (49.3 ± 41.5 versus 27.7 ± 28.9 P = .012), SLST (13.0 ± 9.1 versus 9.1 ± 5.9 P = .026), and 5xSST (17.7 ± 4.3 versus 19.4 ± 3.5 P = .043). No significant differences were found between groups in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index score, Knee Society Score, rehabilitation costs, 90-day readmission rate, or incidence of adverse events. ConclusionOur study showed that smartphone app-based remote rehabilitation worked better than home-based rehabilitation with outpatient guidance in terms of short-term results in ROM, SLST, and 5xSST.

Cognitive Functional Remote Group intervention for adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A feasibility study

Introduction: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder among adults has been associated with deficits in executive functioning and poor quality of life. The purpose of this study is to examine feasibility of the Cognitive Functional Remote Group intervention among adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Method: Mixed-method feasibility study. Five adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder received 16 weekly sessions of Cognitive Functional Remote Group. Results: The target population was easily recruited and showed interest in the treatment. All participants completed the intervention and were moderately-very highly satisfied with different aspects of the intervention. Additionally, pre–post measures demonstrated high rates of clinically significant improvements in the quality of life measure and less so in executive functioning. Three central themes emerged from qualitative analyses of participants experiences relating to (a) Identity development through group process; (b) Occupation-based learning of self-awareness and cognitive functional strategies and (c) Feedback on group setting and content and relating to advantages and disadvantages of remote (Zoom) format. Conclusion: This study supported Cognitive Functional Remote Group feasibility among adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Quantitative findings point to the responsiveness of quality-of-life measures. Qualitative findings suggest gains in identity development, awareness and acquisition of cognitive functional strategies through occupation-based learning in a telerehabilitation group therapy format. Further controlled studies are warranted.

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

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.

Can post stroke walking improve via telerehabilitation? A systematic review in adults with stroke.

The purpose of this systematic review is to analyze primary studies investigating the effects of telerehabilitation on walking outcomes for the treatment of adult stroke survivors. Data sources included PubMed, Embase and CINAHL searched until August 2022, using combinations of several keywords such as "telerehabilitation", "stroke", and "gait". Studies were required to have bidirectional form of videoconferencing with assessor presence, and include assessment of walking function (speed, endurance and/or balance). Data extraction was performed from each full text by one author, and quality and bias were assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro). Eight studies involving 248 participants met the inclusion criteria. Seven reported significant improvements in outcomes of balance and two showed improvements in endurance after telerehabilitation. Two studies observed greater balance improvements in the telerehabilitation group compared to control and/or in-person therapy. Differences in frequency, training duration, intervention type, and absence of an in-person therapy control group were identified as causes of variation between studies. The effectiveness of telerehabilitation as a mode of therapy for walking could not be definitively determined due to the limited number of studies that directly measured walking speed or endurance. However, strong evidence was found for the use of telerehabilitation for balance improvements, which has implications for walking recovery. Telerehabilitation appears to be safe, feasible and demonstrated high adherence. Our results highlighted limited studies using real-time supervision to administer telerehabilitation and lack of studies focusing on outcomes of walking speed and endurance, needed to fully determine the role of telerehabilitation for gait recovery. PROSPERO number CRD42021238197.

Is Mindfulness-Based Program Applied Via Telerehabilitation Effective on Mental and Physical Health in Postmenopausal Women?

Objective: To compare the effects of mindfulness-based intervention with supervised telerehabilitation (ST) or video-based telerehabilitation (VBT) on endurance, sleep quality, mental health, quality of life, body awareness, physical activity level, and pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms in postmenopausal women. Methods: Fifty postmenopausal women aged 50-65 years were randomly allocated to either the supervised telerehabilitation group (STG) (n=26) or the video-based telerehabilitation group (VBTG) (n=24). In both groups, 20 minutes of mindfulness-based intervention was applied every day for six weeks. Before and after intervention, Brief Resilience Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Richard–Campbell Sleep Scale, Nottingham Health Profile, Body Awareness Questionnaire, short forms of International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory were applied for assessment. Results: The groups were similar in terms of sociodemographic characteristics and outcome measures (p&amp;gt;0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in all parameters measured in the STG before and after the intervention, and only in short forms of International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and Nottingham Health Profile scores in the VBTG (p&amp;lt;0.05). When the difference between groups was compared, there was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of Brief Resilience Scale, Nottingham Health Profile (except social isolation subscale score), Body Awareness Questionnaire, and Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 scores (p&amp;lt;0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that Mindfulness-based intervention with ST is more effective than VBT in improving resilience, mental health, sleep quality, quality of life, body awareness, and pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms in postmenopausal women, and ST is an alternative approach.

Non-Immersive Virtual Reality Telerehabilitation System Improves Postural Balance in People with Chronic Neurological Diseases.

People with chronic neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's Disease (PD) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS), often present postural disorders and a high risk of falling. When difficulties in achieving outpatient rehabilitation services occur, a solution to guarantee the continuity of care may be telerehabilitation. This study intends to expand the scope of our previously published research on the impact of telerehabilitation on quality of life in an MS sample, testing the impact of this type of intervention in a larger sample of neurological patients also including PD individuals on postural balance. We included 60 participants with MS and 72 with PD. All enrolled subjects were randomized into two groups: 65 in the intervention group and 67 in the control group. Both treatments lasted 30-40 sessions (5 days/week, 6-8 weeks). Motor, cognitive, and participation outcomes were registered before and after the treatments. All participants improved the outcomes at the end of the treatments. The study's primary outcome (Mini-BESTest) registered a greater significant improvement in the telerehabilitation group than in the control group. Our results demonstrated that non-immersive virtual reality telerehabilitation is well tolerated and positively affects static and dynamic balance and gait in people with PD and MS.

Effects of atelerehabilitation-based exercise program in patients with systemic sclerosis.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of telerehabilitation-based exercise programs in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients. Forty-six SSc patients were randomly separated into two groups as telerehabilitation and control. Videos comprising clinical Pilates-based exercises were designed and uploaded to YouTube™ for the telerehabilitation group by physiotherapists. Avideo interview was conducted with the SSc patients once aweek and an exercise program was performed twice daily for 8weeks in the telerehabilitation group. The same exercise programs were printed on paper brochures and patients were instructed on their application in the form of ahome exercise program to be continued for 8weeks in the control group. Pain, fatigue, quality of life, sleep, physical activity, anxiety, and depression were assessed in all patients at the beginning and end of the study. The clinical and demographic characteristics were similar in both groups (p > 0.05). Fatigue, pain, anxiety, and depression decreased in both groups, while quality of life and sleep quality increased after the exercise program (p < 0.05). However, the improvements in the telerehabilitation group were statistically more significant than in the control group for all studied parameters (p < 0.05). The results of our study demonstrate the superior efficacy of telerehabilitation-based treatment programs over home exercise programs, hence, we suggest widespread use of this innovative treatment program in SSc patients.

Effect of a cardiac telerehabilitation program during COVID-19 associated social isolation

This study aimed to compare the impact of a cardiac telerehabilitation (CTR) protocol aimed at patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) during the period of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) associated with social isolation. This retrospective cohort study included 58 participants diagnosed with stable cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), which were divided into three groups: conventional cardiac rehabilitation (CCR) group (n ​= ​20), composed of patients undergoing conventional cardiac rehabilitation; cardiac telerehabilitation (CTR) group (n ​= ​18), composed of patients undergoing cardiac telerehabilitation and control group (n ​= ​20), composed of patients admitted for cardiac rehabilitation who had not started training programs. The results showed that body mass index was reduced (p ​= ​0.019) and quality of life was improved (e.g., limitations due to physical aspects [p ​= ​0.021), vitality [p ​= ​0.045] and limitations due to emotional aspects [p ​= ​0.024]) by CCR compared to baseline. These outcomes were not improved by CTR (p ​> ​0.05). However, this strategy prevented clinical deterioration in the investigated patients. Although CCR achieved a superior effect on clinical improvement and quality of life, CTR was relevant to stabilize the blood pressure and quality of life of patients with cardiovascular diseases during the period of COVID-19-associated social isolation.

Comparative efficacy of a day-stay hospital and telerehabilitation treatment: A retrospective study in 180 patients with COVID-19

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence indicates that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with long-term virus transmission by patients during the convalescence period. This fact required changes in the existing procedures of rehabilitation treatment while maintaining its staging. Particularly, the transformation of in-person rehabilitation to telerehabilitation is recommended. The previous experience allowed us to organize telerehabilitation for patients with COVID-19 in the early days of the pandemic. We have summarized the findings of our study in this article.&#x0D; AIM: to compare the effectiveness of two technologies for the rehabilitation treatment of patients with post-COVID: an in-person treatment (a day-stay hospital) and telerehabilitation&#x0D; MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective single blind study included patients with post-COVID, who received day hospital or telerehabilitation treatment between May 2020 and February 2021. The efficacy was estimated by the intensity level of physical activity measured according to the Borg scale and by the generic quality of life by EQ-5 (European Quality of Life 5-Dimension Questionnaire). The choice of these metrics is justified by the possibility of their acquisition via a teleinterview.&#x0D; RESULTS: 180 patients in total, including those who received a day hospital (DH) rehabilitation treatment (n=97; 64 women and 33 men; 55.111.9 years) and those who underwent telerehabilitation (TR) (n=83; 52 women and 31 men; 54.412.76 years) were included in the study. In the DH group, the mean patient-day was 12.6, mean number of sessions achieved 10. In these patients, a high compliance to the treatment was noted: only 5 (4.9%) of participants visited 5 sessions. As a result of treatment in the DH and the TR groups, a statistically significant improvement both according to the Borg score and to the EQ-5 was observed (p 0.05 compared to the beginning of the treatment). The mean improvement by the Borg scale achieved 3.65 in the DH group and 1.43 in the TR group (p=0.001). The between-group differences in the effectiveness of therapy by the EQ-5 were not statistically significant (p=0.341). The clinical form of COVID did not affect the effectiveness of the rehabilitation treatment. We also assessed the TR-patients' perception of the absence of a physical contact during the therapy: all the participants reported a high quality of medical care. Neither a patients age nor the treatment time affected the level of satisfaction. 12 patients expressed their desire to repeat the TR course. No stop-signs or adverse effects were registered during the rehabilitation period in both treatment groups.&#x0D; CONCLUSIONS: The use of telerehabilitation in the medical rehabilitation care for post-COVID patients is not less effective than an in-person (day-stay hospital) treatment. Given the high risks of infection during the COVID pandemic, it is possible to use such a method of rehabilitation, without an in-person medical examination. However, we emphasize that in general practice a patient should be examined manually by specialists of a multidisciplinary team at least twice: at the beginning and at the end of the rehabilitation treatment course.

The Impact of Personality Traits on Patient Satisfaction after Telerehabilitation: A Comparative Study of Remote and Face-to-Face Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation during COVID-19 Lockdown.

This study aimed to evaluate the differences in patient satisfaction between telerehabilitation and traditional face-to-face rehabilitation and to identify the impact of personality traits on patient satisfaction with the remote form of rehabilitation. Eighty participants with musculoskeletal pain were recruited for the study. The telerehabilitation group (n = 40) completed a single remote session of rehabilitation, whereas the traditional rehabilitation group (n = 40) completed a single face-to-face session. After therapy, each participant was asked to complete a tailored satisfaction survey using Google Forms. The Health Care Satisfaction Questionnaire (HCSQ) and the International Personality Item Pool-Big Five Markers-20 (IPIP-BFM-20) were used as outcome measures. Considering the results of patient satisfaction with healthcare service, there were no statistically significant differences between telerehabilitation and traditional rehabilitation groups in the total HCSQ score and its subscales. For the complete HCSQ, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and extraversion were essential predictor variables, accounting for 51% of the variance in patient satisfaction. In conclusion, there were no differences in patient satisfaction between telerehabilitation and traditional rehabilitation groups. In the telerehabilitation group, higher agreeableness levels and lower conscientiousness and extraversion level could predict patients' satisfaction with telerehabilitation.

Telerehabilitation Pathways in Specific Learning Disorders: Improving Reading and Writing.

Telerehabilitation has proved to be a useful tool for neurodevelopmental disorders in allowing timely and intensive intervention and preventing relapses; it is also widely used for specific learning disabilities (SLD), showing significant effects on reading abilities, but variables linked to its effectiveness have not been studied yet. The present study was aimed at testing the effectiveness of telerehabilitation on reading and writing in SLD children, comparing different treatment pathways, and considering the impact of training intensity and executive functions. Seventy-three children were enrolled (telerehabilitation group: 48 children, waiting list group: 25 children). The results showed significant improvements in reading fluency, text dictation, and executive functions in the training group. Children attending a combined training including reading tasks and rapid automatized naming processes improved in word reading fluency and text dictation. The number of training sessions and the change in executive functions significantly correlated with changes in reading accuracy. Here we show a new contribution to telerehabilitation research in SLD: telerehabilitation significantly enhanced learning abilities and executive functions. Training based on the learning task and the underlying processes significantly increased not only reading speed, according to previous studies, but also writing accuracy. The findings' implications in clinical research and practice are discussed.

Visual Telerehabilitation with Visually Impaired Children: From the Pandemic Emergency to a Stand-Alone Method

In the last two years, orthoptists have counteracted patient drop-out through visual telerehabilitation. Efforts were made to transfer the in-person visual rehabilitation setting to the telematic environment in response to the worldwide crisis. Nowadays, statistical evidence on the effects of visual telerehabilitation is still scarce. The present research is the first, in Italy, to offer a pre-post assessment of the impact of visual telerehabilitation. Twenty-four (n = 24) children (64% male, 14% monocles) aged 4 to 15 years (mean age = 9.21 years, SD = 3.36, mean residual vision 1.3/10) were randomly assigned to three different group types for rehabilitation: a telematic rehabilitation group (n = 7), a mixed rehabilitation group (n = 8), and an in-person rehabilitation group (n = 9). Each group underwent a six-week visual rehabilitation. Ergo-perimetric evaluation before and after the rehabilitation was administered to the three groups. t-tests showed a significant improvement in ergo-perimetric outcomes in the visual telerehabilitation group (p < 0.05) and in the mixed rehabilitation group (p < 0.01), via a shortening of the response times. The findings suggest that visual telerehabilitation and mixed rehabilitation can lead to an ergo-perimetric improvement in visually impaired children within six weeks. Further research is needed, both to corroborate the findings with a larger sample size and to attain a follow-up measurement in order to clarify whether visual telerehabilitation could represent a stand-alone method.

Effects of Spinal Stabilization Exercises Delivered Using Telerehabilitation on Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background When spinal stabilization exercises (SSE) are performed regularly, they may provide benefits on outcome measures in chronic nonspecific neck pain (CNNP) patients. The pandemic has made it difficult for CNNP patients to access regular physiotherapy-exercise services. This study aims to compare telerehabilitation (TR) with face-to-face rehabilitation in CNNP patients. Methods Neck Functional Capacity Evaluation Test (NFCET) results were the primary outcomes. Pain intensity (PI), disability, awareness, the architecture of the neck muscles, and exercise satisfaction were the secondary outcomes. Patients were randomized into the TR group (TRG) (n=15) and the control group (CG) (n=16). All patients performed SSE 3 days a week, for 8 weeks. The TRG was instructed remotely while the CG was instructed in the clinic. Results After 8 weeks, NFCET values increased (p<0.05). In both groups, PI and disability decreased and neck awareness increased (p<0.05). Muscle architecture parameters improved in both groups (p<0.05), except for the Right Sternocleidomastoideus in both groups and the Right Upper-Trapezius in TRG (p>0.05). There was no difference between the groups for all variables and exercise satisfaction after 8 weeks (p>0.05). Conclusion SSE for neck pain, whether supervised by a therapist in the clinic or by telerehabilitation, was equally effective.