TeleRehabilitation

Telerehabilitation refers to the delivery of rehabilitation services via telecommunications technologies to patients who are geographically distant or require remote monitoring. It encompasses assessment, intervention, monitoring, and education delivered at a distance, often through synchronous real-time video conferencing, asynchronous messaging, or automated systems. Common modalities include video consultations, remote gait and balance training, home exercise programs guided by apps, telemonitoring of vital signs or activity data, robotic-assisted devices, virtual reality, and wearable sensors.

Applications span multiple conditions and settings, including post-stroke recovery, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, orthopedic conditions, chronic diseases such as COPD and cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal disorders, and pediatric or geriatric rehabilitation. Programs may be home-based or delivered in outpatient settings and often involve multidisciplinary teams such as physicians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists.

Benefits reported include increased access to care, reduced travel time and costs, greater convenience, and potential improvements in adherence. Some studies show outcomes that are comparable to conventional in-person rehabilitation for selected conditions, with potential reductions in hospital readmissions and improvements in functional status. However, evidence quality varies by condition and program design. Limitations include the digital divide, patient safety concerns with remote assessment of new symptoms, technology usability, data privacy and security, and reimbursement or regulatory barriers. Clinicians typically perform initial in-person evaluations or triage to determine suitability for remote services and to ensure patient safety.

Telerehabilitation continues to evolve with advances in mobile health, sensors, and artificial intelligence, aiming to extend access while maintaining quality of care.