Telemedicine-Rehabilitation and Virtual Reality in Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine

Effect of traditional rehabilitation programme versus telerehabilitation in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cohort study

BACKGROUND

Telerehabilitation has become increasingly popular since the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) outbreak. However, studies are needed to understand the effects of remote delivery of spine treatment approaches.

OBJECTIVES

To verify and compare the effects of traditional rehabilitation programmes (in-person) and telerehabilitation (online) on the progression of scoliotic curvature in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to verify the acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility among patients and physiotherapists regarding both treatments.

METHODS

This is a cohort study (prospective analysis of 2 intervention groups: telerehabilitation (online) and traditional rehabilitation (in-person). A total of 66 adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis were included. Recruitment was conducted through the Clinical Center in Scoliosis Care (January-December 2020). Participants were divided into 2 intervention groups: telerehabilitation (online) (n = 33) and traditional rehabilitation programme (in-person) (n = 33). Both groups also were supplied with a spinal orthopaedic brace. Scoliosis was confirmed by a spine X-ray examination (Cobb angle). Radiographic parameters measured were: Cobb angles (thoracic and lumbar). The method of Nash and Moe (thoracic and lumbar) was also evaluated based on the relationship between the vertebral pedicles and the centre of the vertebral body in the X-rays. Assessments were performed at baseline (T0) and after 6 months of the intervention protocol (T6). Patient and physiotherapist reports were evaluated on the acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of the interventions.

RESULTS

Adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis showed a significant decrease in the Cobb angle (main scoliotic curvature), with a 4.9° for the traditional rehabilitation programme and 2.4° for the telerehabilitation. Thoracic and lumbar Cobb angles did not show significant changes after the intervention in both groups or between groups. Thoracic and lumbar Nash and Moe scores scores also did not show significant differences after 6 months of in-person or telerehabilitation intervention, or between groups. The intervention by telerehabilitation was acceptable, appropriate, and feasible for patients and physiotherapists.

CONCLUSION

Use of the rehabilitation programme for adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis, delivered via telerehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic, was encouraging for future applications due to the improved effect on reducing the Cobb angle, preventing progression of scoliosis. In addition, telerehabilitation showed good acceptability among patients and physiotherapists. Traditional rehabilitation programmes (in-person) in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis also showed a reduction in the Cobb angle.

Telerehabilitation Is a Valid Option for Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients: A Retrospective Pilot Study Based on Our Experience during the COVID-19 Pandemic

INTRODUCTION

Total knee arthroplasty is an effective operation. Post-surgery rehabilitation, based on early and intensive progressive exercise programs, plays a substantial role and telerehabilitation can be an effective safe option. This retrospective study aimed to compare traditional in-presence rehabilitation and telerehabilitation for total knee arthroplasty, based on our experience during the Italian COVID-19 lockdown.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 164 patients (94 females and 70 males) enrolled in 2020 within 2 weeks after total knee replacement to perform post-operative outpatient rehabilitation. The clinical results of 82 patients (mean age 66.8 ± 10.2 years) performing telerehabilitation with those obtained from a similar cohort of 82 patients (mean age 65.4 ± 11.8 years) performing traditional in-presence outpatient rehabilitation were compared. Clinical outcomes were examined by comparing the gait speed (Time Up and Go-TUG test), the range of motion, the pain intensity (VAS), the functional status (Oxford Knee Score-OKS and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score-KOOS) and the overall satisfaction (Self-administered patient satisfaction scale) 12 weeks after the beginning of the physiotherapeutic protocol.

RESULTS

Telerehabilitation was non-inferior to traditional in-presence rehabilitation in all of the investigated areas and no statistical difference in terms of effectiveness was detected at 12 weeks, as confirmed by the respective patient-reported outcome scores such as TUG test (reduced from 20 ± 2 s to 12 ± 1.5 s for the telerehab cohort and from 18 ± 1.5 s to 13.1 ± 2 s for the in-presence rehabilitation one), pain VAS, OKS (improved from 22 ± 1.3 to 36 ± 2.7 for the telerehab cohort and from 23 ± 2.1 to 35.1 ± 4.2 for the in-presence group), KOOS (improved from 46.2 ± 10.2 to 67.4 ± 3.8 for the telerehabilitation cohort and from 48.4 ± 8.4 to 68.3 ± 6.6 for the other group), and the Self-administered patient satisfaction scale (more than two-thirds of patients globally satisfied with the results of their surgery in both groups).

CONCLUSION

The telerehabilitation program was effective after total knee replacement and yielded clinical outcomes that were not inferior to conventional outpatient protocols.