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Telerehabilitation as a Therapeutic Exercise Tool versus Face-to-Face Physiotherapy: A Systematic Review

Author

Listed:
  • Mª Teresa Muñoz-Tomás

    (Physiotherapy Primary Care, 44002 Teruel, Spain)

  • Mario Burillo-Lafuente

    (Physiotherapy Hospital San José, 44002 Teruel, Spain)

  • Araceli Vicente-Parra

    (Physiotherapy Hospital Obispo Polanco, 44002 Teruel, Spain)

  • Mª Concepción Sanz-Rubio

    (Physiotherapy Primary Care, Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain)

  • Carmen Suarez-Serrano

    (Department of Physiotherapy, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain)

  • Yolanda Marcén-Román

    (Department of Anatomy and Human Embryology, IIS Aragón, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain)

  • Mª Ángeles Franco-Sierra

    (Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, IIS Aragón, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain)

Abstract

Digital physiotherapy, often referred to as “Telerehabilitation”, consists of applying rehabilitation using telecommunication technologies. The objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic exercise when it is telematically prescribed. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, SportDiscus and PEDro (30 December 2022). The results were obtained by entering a combination of MeSH or Emtree terms with keywords related to telerehabilitation and exercise therapy. RCTs on patients over 18 years and two groups were included, one working with therapeutic exercise through telerehabilitation and one working with conventional physiotherapy group. Results: a total of 779 works were found. However, after applying the inclusion criteria, only 11 were selected. Telerehabilitation is most frequently used to treat musculoskeletal, cardiac and neurological pathologies. The preferred telerehabilitation tools are videoconferencing systems, telemonitoring and online platforms. Exercise programs ranged from 10 to 30 min and were similar in both intervention and control groups. In all the studies, results proved to be similar for telerehabilitation and face-to-face rehabilitation in both groups when measuring functionality, quality of life and satisfaction. Conclusion: this review generally concludes that intervention through telerehabilitation programs is as feasible and efficient as conventional physiotherapy in terms of functionality level and quality of life. In addition, telerehabilitation shows high levels of patients’ satisfaction and adherence, being values equivalent to traditional rehabilitation.

Suggested Citation

  • Mª Teresa Muñoz-Tomás & Mario Burillo-Lafuente & Araceli Vicente-Parra & Mª Concepción Sanz-Rubio & Carmen Suarez-Serrano & Yolanda Marcén-Román & Mª Ángeles Franco-Sierra, 2023. "Telerehabilitation as a Therapeutic Exercise Tool versus Face-to-Face Physiotherapy: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-15, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:5:p:4358-:d:1083911
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    Cited by:

    1. Valeska Gatica-Rojas & Ricardo Cartes-Velásquez, 2023. "Telerehabilitation in Low-Resource Settings to Improve Postural Balance in Older Adults: A Non-Inferiority Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial Protocol," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(18), pages 1-13, September.

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