Telerehabilitation For Patients Research Articles

An Opportunity for Management of Fatigue, Physical Condition, and Quality of Life Through Asynchronous Telerehabilitation in Patients After Acute Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

ObjectiveTo compare the preliminary efficacy of asynchronous telerehabilitation in patients after acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on fatigue, physical condition, quality of life, and feasibility of this pilot study with that of a booklet format. DesignRandomized pilot study with 2 intervention arms: asynchronous telerehabilitation group and booklet-based rehabilitation group, with 2 follow-ups at 3 and 6 months. SettingHospital. ParticipantsPatients discharged after COVID-19 were recruited and evaluated (N=35). InterventionsThe intervention consisted of a 12-week multimodal rehabilitation program via telerehabilitation or by a booklet. Main Outcome MeasuresFatigue as the main outcome and functional status, quality of life, and feasibility as secondary outcomes were evaluated. ResultsAfter the intervention, there was no significant difference between groups in fatigue, but there were significant differences in favor of the asynchronous telerehabilitation group for the 6-Minute Walk Test (p=.008), the 30-Second Sit-to-Stand Test (p=.019), and physical quality of life (p=.035). These improvements were maintained throughout the 6-month follow-up. Telerehabilitation was shown to be a viable option, without incidents and with a higher adhesion (p=.028) than the booklet format. ConclusionsA multimodal rehabilitation program by means of asynchronous telerehabilitation appears as a more effective option than traditional formats in improving post–acute COVID-19 sequelae.

Effects of Telerehabilitation on Pain and Disability in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

(1) Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis explores the effectiveness of telerehabilitation in patients suffering from chronic neck pain, specifically on pain and disability. The research delves into an area of growing significance within the realm of healthcare, aiming to understand the impact of digital interventions on the rehabilitation process for individuals with prolonged neck pain. (2) Methods: The comprehensive review encompasses a wide array of studies evaluating the collective outcomes of numerous trials focused on telerehabilitation strategies. In this systematic review, PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched to identify studies on telerehabilitation's impact on pain. (3) Results: Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Using the Downs and Black quality assessment, three studies were classified as good and five as fair. The authors identify specific modalities within telerehabilitation, such as remote exercise programs and virtual consultations, that contribute significantly to positive patient outcomes. Meta-analysis indicated a significant overall effect of telerehabilitation on pain reduction (MD = -1.27; 95% CI = -2.06; -0.47; p = 0.002). These findings support telerehabilitation's efficacy in pain management. (4) Conclusions: The synthesis of evidence presented in this systematic review and meta-analysis underscores the potential of telerehabilitation as an effective and accessible means of managing chronic neck pain, offering valuable insights for both healthcare practitioners and policymakers in advancing patient-centered care.

Effectiveness of Inertial Measurement Unit Sensor–Based Feedback Assistance in Telerehabilitation of Patients with Diabetes after Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Effectiveness of Inertial Measurement Unit Sensor–Based Feedback Assistance in Telerehabilitation of Patients with Diabetes after Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Efficacy of telerehabilitation in patients with nonspecific neck pain: A meta-analysis.

At a rate of more than 30% annually, neck pain is a very prevalent musculoskeletal ailment that is second only to low back pain as the most common cause of disability. Most occurrences of neck pain are nonspecific. Telerehabilitation is regarded as a potentially effective healthcare approach in this setting. This review aims to evaluate how a telerehabilitation-based intervention affected individuals with nonspecific neck pain (NNP) in terms of pain and disability. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane library, ClinicalTrials.gov, CNKI, and WanFang were consulted from inception to September 2023, with the inclusion of randomized controlled trials only. The experimental data were meta-analyzed using RevMan 5.3. The meta-analysis contained eight studies; there was no significant difference in pain improvement in patients with NNP by telerehabilitation compared to conventional care (SMD = -0.10, 95% CI: -0.48 to 0.28), but there was a significant effect on disability improvement (SMD = -0.41, 95% CI: -0.78 to -0.03). Telerehabilitation demonstrated more significant improvements in pain (SMD = -1.16, 95% CI: -1.99 to -0.32) and disability (MD = -3.78, 95% CI: -5.29 to -2.27) compared to minimal or no intervention. This study emphasizes the potential benefits of employing telerehabilitation in patients with NNP, especially in reducing pain intensity and improving disability. But additional study is required to fully grasp the potential of telerehabilitation in this field.

Investigation of the barriers to and functional outcomes of telerehabilitation in patients with hand injury

BackgroundTelerehabilitation is an approach that is growing in importance and rapidly becoming more prevalent. However, the potential barriers to this approach and its effectiveness relative to face-to-face treatment still need to be determined. PurposeThe aim of this study was to investigate the technology and access barriers, implementation and organizational challenges, and communication barriers faced by patients undergoing postoperative telerehabilitation after hand tendon repair surgery. It also aimed to investigate the effect of telerehabilitation on pain, kinesiophobia, and functional outcomes. Study designProspective, open-label, nonrandomized comparative clinical study. MethodsThe study was conducted with 44 patients who underwent tendon repair surgery due to tendon injuries of the extrinsic muscles of the hand. Participants were divided into two groups (face-to-face group and telerehabilitation group). All participants received three physiotherapy sessions per week for 8 weeks from their surgery (via video conference using mobile phones to the telerehabilitation group). An early passive motion protocol was applied for flexor tendon and zone 5-7 extensor tendon repairs. Mallet finger rehabilitation was performed for zone 2 extensor tendon repairs, while an early active short arc approach was used for zone 3-4 repairs. The telerehabilitation and face-to-face groups received the same treatment protocols three times a week. In the eighth week of treatment (in the 24th session), the Turkish version of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Injury Questionnaire (DASH-T) and Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia were administered to all patients. The telerehabilitation group also underwent a barrier questionnaire. A pretreatment assessment could not be conducted. The independent-sample t-test was used for DASH-T data, and the Mann-Whitney U-test was used for Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia to compare groups. ResultsIn the study, there were 24 participants (age: 31.58 ± 12.02 years) in the face-to-face group and 20 participants (age: 39.25 ± 12.72 years) in the telerehabilitation group. The two groups were similar in terms of DASH-T and pain (p = 0.103, effect size = 0.647, and p = 0.086, effect size = 0.652, respectively) in the 8 weeks. However, the telerehabilitation group had a higher fear of movement (p = 0.017, effect size = 3.265). The most common barriers to telerehabilitation practices were the fear of damaging the tendon repair and the need for help during the treatment. ConclusionsWe determined that face-to-face treatment in acute physiotherapy for patients who have undergone tendon repair may be more effective compared to telerehabilitation, as it appears to be less likely to induce kinesiophobia. However, in situations where face-to-face treatment is not possible (such as lockdown), telerehabilitation can also be preferred after at least one in-person session to teach and perform exercises.

A study to evaluate the exercise prescription through video and brochure in telerehabilitation of patients with knee osteoarthritis

AbstractBackgroundTelerehabilitation is an easy and creative approach to rehabilitation treatments for osteoarthritis. In telerehabilitation, there are various modes through which exercises can be explained to the patients. Videos and brochures are commonly used to send patients exercise plans. Videos are easy to understand and can mimic live demonstrations and brochures are easy to create and customise for every patient's need. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of brochure and video methods of exercise prescription through telerehabilitation in terms of exercise acquisition and retention.MethodsThe study design was a randomised clinical trial. A total of 110 knee osteoarthritis patients who agreed to participate in the telerehabilitation programme were recruited for the study. The patients were randomly assigned to a video and brochure group. After the initial consultation through videoconferencing, the prescribed exercises were sent on their phone in the form of video or electronic brochure. The participants were again contacted through video conferencing after 2 days and retention and acquisition tests were recorded.ResultsThe comparison of both groups through ‘t’ test showed no significant difference in exercise retention and acquisition. The mean and SD of exercise acquisition in the brochure group was 26.3455, ±5.7998 and in the video group was 27.2, ±5.47181 and mean and SD of exercise retention in the brochure group was 7.8727, ±2.31784 and in the video group was 7.6, ±1.256. Further analysis revealed that the hamstring stretching exercise was retained better in the video group than in the brochure group (p = 0.031*).ConclusionThe study found no significant difference in exercise acquisition and retention between the video and brochure groups. Hence, an exercise brochure can be equally effective as a video for exercise prescription if the brochure is developed by keeping in mind the principles of readability and the use of proper instructions.

Motivational Interviewing as a Tool to Increase Motivation and Adherence to a Long COVID Telerehabilitation Intervention: Secondary Data Analysis from a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Although motivational interviewing was originally developed to address abuse disorders, scientific evidence confirms that it is an increasingly used and effective approach in a wide range of therapeutic interventions. To date, however, no studies have analyzed the use of this tool in patients with persistent symptoms following coronavirus disease 2019, a condition known as Long COVID. To analyze the effectiveness of motivational interviewing with regard to the adherence to telerehabilitation for Long COVID using a mobile application. As a secondary objective, factors related to greater motivation before and after the motivational interviewing techniques were analyzed. This longitudinal design substudy used a sample of 52 adult patients with Long COVID participating in the intervention group of a randomized clinical trial. This trial examined the effectiveness of a telerehabilitation program for this population using a mobile application. This program included three motivational interviews to achieve maximum treatment adherence. In this study, the main variables were motivation and adherence to application use. Sociodemographic and clinical data, personal constructs, and affective state were also collected. Subsequently, a descriptive, correlational, and regression statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS Statistics program. The median motivation prior to the first motivational interview was 8 (IQR 2), the median at the end of the last motivational interview was 8.5 (IQR 2.75), and the change in motivation levels after the three motivational interviews was 0.5 (IQR 1). Affective state and final motivation scores were predictors of greater adherence to telerehabilitation treatment. A high level of motivation after participating in motivational interviewing appears to be related to higher levels of adherence to telerehabilitation in patients with Long COVID. This suggests that motivational interviewing may be an effective tool in the treatment of this disease.

Youtube as a source of information about stroke rehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective: Although stroke rehabilitation (SR) is part of post-stroke recovery, patients have limited knowledge on this subject. This study aims to analyze YouTube videos about SR in terms of the information value and quality. Methods: On YouTube.com; the word “SR” was searched in September 6th, 2021. The listed first 100 videos were classified according to count of like, dislike, source of upload, origin of country and contents of SR. Quality, reliability and accuracy of the videos were determined with Global Quality Score (GQS), Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria and Modified DISCERN questionnaire, respectively. Results: According to the results of the study, 59 low quality, 28 medium quality, and 13 high-quality videos were determined. Eighty one percent of the videos contained insufficient data. Academic and physician-sourced videos comprised the majority (84.7%) of the high-quality group. A statistically significant result was found between the video sources and the number of views, likes, dislikes, comments, and video duration (p<0.05). A weak positive correlation was found between video durations and GQS (r=0.671), JAMA benchmark criteria (r=0.665), modified DISCERN (r=0.701) scores (p<0.001). Conclusion: Our results showed that most of the YouTube videos on SR have poor quality and insufficient data. High-quality videos have a longer duration and are uploaded by academic and physician video sources. YouTube can be considered an alternative resource besides tele rehabilitation for patients who need SR and whose health care was interrupted during the COVID pandemic. It can be said that higher-quality videos created by health professionals will be more useful for patient education in future.

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.

The efficacy and safety of telerehabilitation for patients following total knee arthroplasty: a overviews of systematic reviews

BackgroundStudies evaluating the effectiveness and safety of telerehabilitation in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) have increased. However, the study quality and results differ, systematic reviews are limited. We aimed to synthesise systematic reviews and meta-analyses to assess the effects of telerehabilitation in patients post-TKA.Materials and methodsSystematic reviews and meta-analyses regarding the effectiveness and safety of TKA telerehabilitation were retrieved from eight databases from establishment to 18 December 2022. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2), Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews (ROBIS) and GRADE system were used to evaluate results, methods, bias and evidence quality.ResultsThirteen systematic reviews and meta-analyses were analysed. The AMSTAR 2 showed low methodological quality in seven studies and very low quality in six. Among the key items, item 2 had been registered on website before systematic review in four reviews. Concerning item 4, did not provide a comprehensive search strategy in 4 reviews. For item 7, none of the reviews provided a list of reasons for excluding an article. For item 9, regarding whether appropriate tools were used to assess the risk of bias of each included study, one review was assessed as ‘partially yes’, one review only included RCTs, and the remainder were assessed as ‘yes’. For item 11, one review did not specify the statistical methods used, and three reviews did not conduct a meta-analysis. For item 13, four reviews considered the risk of bias when interpreting or discussing the study results. For item 15, seven reviews did not evaluate publication bias. The PRISMA scores of the 13 reviews ranged from 17.5 to 26.0. The PRISMA indicated that 69.2% had no protocol registration, 38.5% did not provide other materials and evidence certainty, 23.1% did not provide certainty assessment, 30.8% did not report study bias. According to the ROBIS scale, diferrent domains have diferrent risks in all the reviews.ConclusionTelerehabilitation positively affects walking ability, knee extension and patient costs post-TKA surgery. Regarding the quality of life, patient satisfaction and the WOMAC, telerehabilitation had similar effects to conventional rehabilitation. Owing to the low quality of the studies, these conclusions should be interpreted cautiously, high-quality studies are needed in the future.

Effect of a telerehabilitation exercise program versus a digital booklet with self-care for patients with chronic non-specific neck pain: a protocol of a randomized controlled trial assessor-blinded, 3 months follow-up

BackgroundNeck pain is the fourth worldwide leading cause of disability and represents 22% of musculoskeletal disorders. Conservative intervention has been strongly recommended to treat chronic neck pain and Telerehabilitation is the alternative for the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. There is a lack of high-quality research on the effects of telerehabilitation in patients with neck pain and functional disability. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effect of a telerehabilitation exercise program versus a digital booklet only with self-care information in individuals with non-specific chronic neck pain.MethodsThis is a prospectively registered, assessor-blinded, two-arm randomized controlled trial comparing a telerehabilitation exercise program versus a digital booklet with self-care information. Seventy patients will be recruited with non-specific chronic neck pain. Follow-ups will be conducted post-treatment, 6 weeks, and 3 months after randomization. The primary outcome will be disability at post-treatment (6 weeks) measured using neck pain disability. Secondary outcomes will be pain intensity levels, global perceived effect, self-efficacy, quality of life, kinesiophobia, and adherence to treatment. In our hypothesis, patients allocated to the intervention group experience outcomes that are similar to those of those assigned to the self-care digital booklet. Our hypothesis can then be approved or disapproved based on the results of the study.DiscussionThis randomized clinical trial will provide reliable information on the use of telerehabilitation to treat patients with chronic non-specific neck pain.Trial registrationThe study was prospectively registered at the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (number: RBR-10h7khvk). Registered on 16 September 2022.

Efficacy and Safety of Respiratory Telerehabilitation in Patients with Long COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The aim of this review was to identify, map, and synthesize the extent and nature of research activity on the use of telerehabilitation to support Long COVID-19 rehabilitation and examine the efficacy and safety of respiratory telerehabilitation in patients with Long COVID-19. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials were performed. We included controlled trials that tested the effect of respiratory telerehabilitation interventions in patients with Long COVID-19 versus no intervention, usual care, placebo, or face-to-face intervention. The data were pooled, and a meta-analysis was completed for quality of life, dyspnea, lung function, anxiety and depression, respiratory muscle strength, functional capacity, and lower limb strength. Finally, 10 studies were included. The meta-analysis results show significant differences in favor of respiratory telerehabilitation in quality of life (p = 0.02), dyspnea (p < 0.00001), respiratory muscle strength (p < 0.001), functional capacity (p < 0.0001), and lower limb strength (p = 0.01) but not in lung function (p = 0.28) and anxiety and depression (p = 0.55). In addition, there were no statistically significant differences in adverse effects (p = 0.06) between the telerehabilitation and comparator groups. The results suggest that these interventions can improve quality of life, reduce dyspnea, and increase respiratory and lower extremity muscle strength as well as functional capacity in patients with Long COVID-19.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Adults with Chronic Respiratory Disease: An Official American Thoracic Society Clinical Practice Guideline.

Background: Despite the known benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) for patients with chronic respiratory disease, this treatment is underused. Evidence-based guidelines should lead to greater knowledge of the proven benefits of PR, highlight the role of PR in evidence-based health care, and in turn foster referrals to and more effective delivery of PR for people with chronic respiratory disease. Methods: The multidisciplinary panel formulated six research questions addressing PR for specific patient groups (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], interstitial lung disease, and pulmonary hypertension) and models for PR delivery (telerehabilitation, maintenance PR). Treatment effects were quantified using systematic reviews. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach was used to formulate clinical recommendations. Recommendations: The panel made the following judgments: strong recommendations for PR for adults with stable COPD (moderate-quality evidence) and after hospitalization for COPD exacerbation (moderate-quality evidence), strong recommendation for PR for adults with interstitial lung disease (moderate-quality evidence), conditional recommendation for PR for adults with pulmonary hypertension (low-quality evidence), strong recommendation for offering the choice of center-based PR or telerehabilitation for patients with chronic respiratory disease (moderate-quality evidence), and conditional recommendation for offering either supervised maintenance PR or usual care after initial PR for adults with COPD (low-quality evidence). Conclusions: These guidelines provide the basis for evidence-based delivery of PR for people with chronic respiratory disease.

Telerehabilitation in patients with recent hospitalisation due to acute decompensated heart failure: protocol for the Tele-ADHF randomised controlled trial

BackgroundCardiac rehabilitation in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) has favourable effects on exercise capacity, the risk at hospital (re-)admission and quality of life. Although cardiac rehabilitation is generally recommended it is still under-utilised in daily clinical practice, particularly in frail elderly patients after hospital admission, mainly due to low referral and patient-related barriers. Cardiac telerehabilitation (CTR) has the potential to partially solve these barriers. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of CTR as compared to standard remote care after hospital admission on physical functional capacity in CHF patients.MethodsIn this randomised controlled trial, 64 CHF patients will be recruited during hospitalisation for acute decompensated heart failure, and randomised to CTR combined with remote patient management (RPM) or RPM alone (1:1). All participants will start with RPM after hospital discharge for early detection of deterioration, and will be up titrated to optimal medical therapy before being randomised. CTR will start after randomisation and consists of an 18-week multidisciplinary programme with exercise training by physical and occupational therapists, supported by a (remote) technology-assisted dietary intervention and mental health guiding by a physiologist. The training programme consists of three centre-based and two home-based video exercise training sessions followed by weekly video coaching. The mental health and dietary programme are executed using individual and group video sessions. A wrist-worn device enables remote coaching by the physical therapist. The web application is used for promoting self-management by the following modules: 1) goal setting, 2) progress tracking, 3) education, and 4) video and chat communication. The primary outcome measure is physical functional capacity evaluated by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score. Secondary outcome measures include frailty scoring, recovery after submaximal exercise, subjective health status, compliance and acceptance to the rehabilitation programme, and readmission rate.DiscussionThe Tele-ADHF trial is the first prospective randomised controlled trial designed for evaluating the effects of a comprehensive combined RPM and CTR programme in recently hospitalised CHF patients. We hypothesize that this intervention has superior effects on physical functional capacity than RPM alone.Trial registrationNetherlands Trial Registry (NTR) NL9619, registered 21 July 2021.

Effectiveness of adding pain neuroscience education to telerehabilitation in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome: A randomized controlled trial

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown positive results of pain neuroscience education (PNE) combined with exercise in patients with chronic musculoskeletal disorders. However, the effects of this intervention in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) admitted to a telerehabilitation program remain unexplored. ObjectiveTo compare the effectiveness of a 6-week telerehabilitation program based on PNE + exercise versus exercise alone on patient-reported outcomes after treatment and at 6-weeks post-treatment follow-up in patients with CTS awaiting surgery. DesignRandomized controlled trial. MethodsThirty participants were randomly assigned to the PNE + exercise or exercise-only group. Outcome measures included pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, symptom severity, function, symptoms of anxiety and depression, quality of life, self-perception of improvement. Inferential analyses of the data were performed using a two-factor mixed analysis of variance. ResultsTwenty-five participants completed the study. A significant time × group interaction with a large effect size was observed for kinesiophobia (F = 6.67, p = 0.005, ηp2 = 0.225) and symptom severity (F = 4.82, p = 0.013, ηp2 = 0.173). No significant interaction was observed for the other variables (p > 0.05). A significant difference in self-perceived improvement was observed in favor of the PNE + exercise group after treatment (p < 0.05). Although there were significant and clinically relevant improvements within the PNE + exercise group in pain intensity and catastrophizing, there were no significant differences between the groups. ConclusionsThe addition of PNE to a telerehabilitation exercise program showed short-term improvements in kinesiophobia and symptom severity and greater self-perceived improvement in patients with CTS awaiting surgery. This study highlighted the benefits of including PNE in telerehabilitation interventions for patients with CTS.

Role of Telerehabilitation in Patients With COPD: A Brief Review

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a reversible lung disease that is characterised by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation. The airflow limitation may be due to alveolar and airway abnormalities, usually caused by significant exposure to noxious particles. India is estimated to have 30 million COPD patients at present. Chronic and progressive dyspnoea is the most common symptom of COPD. Dyspnoea is the major cause of anxiety and disability in COPD. There are various exercises for pulmonary rehabilitation for patients with COPD. Telerehabilitation is an approach in which rehabilitation is provided at the patient's work place, home, or other place through video-conferencing, video-based, or Gmail. Various physical exercises, such as strength exercise, endurance exercise, and breathing exercise, can help in the management of dyspnoea, quality of life, and exercise capacity. Studies have supported that telerehabilitation could result in better control of dyspnoea, quality of life, and exercise capacity in patients with COPD. Studies conducted till date have not reached a definitive conclusion for forming a definitive protocol for telerehabilitation exercise in patients with COPD. Hence, in order to establish a definitive telerehabilitation protocol for patients with COPD, further research needs to be conducted. Keywords: Telerehabilitation, Videoconferencing, Video-based, COPD, Quality of Life, Dyspnoea, Exercise Capacity

FEASIBILITY STUDY ON SWALLOWING TELEREHABILITATION IN PATIENTS WITH CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019.

Direct swallowing rehabilitation assessment in patients with highly infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, is not recommended. We aimed to explore the feasibility of using telerehabilitation for managing dysphagia in patients with COVID-19 in isolated hospital rooms. Open-label trial. We examined 7 enrolled patients with COVID-19 who presented with dysphagia and were treated with telerehabilitation. Telerehabilitation was performed for 20 min daily and included indirect and direct swallowing training. Dysphagia was assessed before and after telerehabilitation using the 10-item Eating Assessment Tool, the Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability and graphical evaluation using tablet device cameras. All patients showed significant improvement in swallowing ability, evaluated by the range of the upward movement of their larynxes and the Eating Assessment Tool and Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability scores. The change in swallowing evaluation scores was correlated with the number of telerehabilitation sessions. There was no infection spread to the medical staff treating these patients. Dysphagia in patients with COVID-19 was improved using telerehabilitation while ensuring a high degree of safety for clinicians. Telerehabilitation might eliminate the risks associated with patient contact and has the advantage of infection control. Its feasibility needs further exploration.

39 - Technical testing and patients and providers satisfaction of new telemedicine platform for telemonitoring and telerehabilitation in patients undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP)

39 - Technical testing and patients and providers satisfaction of new telemedicine platform for telemonitoring and telerehabilitation in patients undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP)

In non-specific low back pain, is an exercise program carried out through telerehabilitation as effective as one carried out in a physiotherapy center? A controlled randomized trial

Backgrounds:The effectiveness of telerehabilitation (TLRH) in patients with non-specific low back pain (NLBP) remains unknown. No study till date has investigated the efficacy of a mobile-based TLRH in patients with NLBP. ObjectivesTo investigate if a TLRH program is as effective as a clinical exercise programme in improving disability, pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, and hip pain and strength in patients with NLBP. DesignSingle-blind, two-armed, randomized controlled study. MethodA total of 71 individuals with NLBP were randomly allocated to either the TLRH home group (TLRH) or clinic group (CG). The TLRH followed exercise videos and read information on pain neurophysiology. The CG performed the same exercises and received on-site pain education. Both groups performed the exercises twice weekly for 8 weeks. Disability, pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, and hip pain and strength were assessed at baseline, at post-treatment, and at three months. ResultsStatistically significant differences for time-by-group interaction were detected in the strength of left hip flexors (supine [F = 8.356; p = .005]; sitting [F = 9.828; p = .003]), right hip extensors with extended knee [F = 7.461; p = .008], left hip extensors (extended knee [F = 13.175; p = .001]; flexed knee [F = 13.505; p < .001]), pain during flexion of the right [F = 5.133; p = .027] and left [F = 4.731; p = .033] hips in the supine position, disability [F = 4.557; p = .014], and pain catastrophizing [F = 14.132; p < .001]. ConclusionA TLRH mobile-based is as effective as clinical treatment in improving disability, pain catastrophizing, and pain and strength of the hip structures in patients with NLBP.

The Efficacy and Safety of Telerehabilitation for Fibromyalgia: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by persistent and widespread musculoskeletal pain. Telerehabilitation is a promising treatment for patients with fibromyalgia through long-term monitoring, intervention, supervision, consultation, and education. This study aimed to perform a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of telerehabilitation in patients with fibromyalgia. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to fibromyalgia and telerehabilitation were systematically searched in the PubMed, PEDro, Cochrane Library, ScienceDirect, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science databases from inception to November 13, 2022. Two independent researchers screened the literatures and evaluated the methodological quality using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. The outcome measures included the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire scale, pain intensity, depression, pain catastrophizing, quality of life (QoL), and adverse events. Pooled effect sizes were calculated by Stata SE 15.1; a fixed effects model was used when I2<50%, whereas a random effects model was used when I2≥50%. A total of 14 RCTs with 1242 participants were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled results indicated that the telerehabilitation improved the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire score (weighted mean difference -8.32, 95% CI -11.72 to -4.91; P<.001), pain intensity (standardized mean difference [SMD] -0.62, 95% CI -0.76 to -0.47; P<.001), depression levels (SMD -0.42, 95% CI -0.62 to -0.22; P<.001), pain catastrophizing (weighted mean difference -5.81, 95% CI -9.40 to -2.23; P=.001), and QoL (SMD 0.32, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.47; P<.001) in patients with fibromyalgia compared to control interventions. Only 1 RCT reported a mild adverse event of telerehabilitation; the other 13 RCTs did not mention this. Telerehabilitation can improve the symptoms and QoL of fibromyalgia. However, the safety of telerehabilitation remains uncertain due to the lack of sufficient evidence for the management of fibromyalgia. More rigorously designed trials are needed in the future to verify the safety and efficacy of telerehabilitation in fibromyalgia. PROSPERO CRD42022338200; https://tinyurl.com/322keukv.