Telerehabilitation: An Overview
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30953/tmt.v6.285Keywords:
Rehabilitation, Telehealth, Telemedicine, Telerehabilitation, IndiaAbstract
Rehabilitation is a major component of health sciences, and is the process of restoring an incapacitated individual to a normal life through training and therapy. Globally, 2.4 billion people may currently require rehabilitation. In 60 to 70% of countries, existing rehabilitation services have been disrupted due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Even after lockdowns and with vaccinations, some form of physical distancing is likely to be part of the new normal. Concurrently, there is an exponential growth of telehealth. This global overview will demonstrate that telerehabilitation (TR) is likely to be a distinct stand-alone sub-specialty of telehealth. Details of setting up TR, methods, and components are discussed, and clinical indications, limitations, advantages, disadvantages, challenges, and barriers to implementation and technological advances in TR are highlighted followed by an in-depth study of the literature from India.
Downloads
References
Ganapathy K. Telemedicine in India: Personal Reminiscences from 1996. Tamilnadu Chapter of Telemedicine Society of India e-Newsletter Sep Issue. 2020 Available from: https://tsitn.org/tsi-e-newsletter-sep2020/ [cited 1 Oct 2021].
Ganapathy K. Official website. 2021. Available from: http://drkganapathy.com/ [cited 1 Oct 2021].
Ganapathy K, Aditi R. Healthcare for rural India: Is telemedicine the solution? J eHealth Technol Applic. 2007;5:203–7.
Ganapathy K. Telehealth for one sixth of humankind making it happen: The Apollo Story. In: Jordanova M, Lievens F, eds. Global telemedicine and ehealth updates: Knowledge resources. ISfTeH Belgium. 2015;8:128–33.
Ganapathy K. Interview. Eur Med J. 2020. Available from: https://www.emjreviews.com/innovations/article/interview-dr-krishnan-ganapathy/ [cited 1 Oct 2021].
Ganapathy K, Nukala L, Premanand S, Tamilmaran P, Aggarwal P, Saksena S, et al. Telemedicine in camp mode while screening for noncommunicable diseases: A preliminary report from India. Telemed J E Health. 2020;26:42–50. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2018.0300
Ganapathy K, Kanwar V, Bhatnagar T, Uthayakumaran N. m-Health: A critical analysis of awareness, perception, and attitude of healthcare among providers in Himachal Pradesh, North India. Telemed J E Health. 2016;22:675–88. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2015.0198
Xixi L, Rai A, Ganapathy K. Designing cost-effective telemedicine camps for underprivileged individuals in less developed countries: A decomposed affordance-effectivity framework. J Assoc Inform Sys. 2020. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telerehabilitation [cited 1 Oct 2021].
Ganapathy K. Deployment of telemedicine in neurosciences: The good and the evil – A balanced approach. Neurol India. 2018;66:1852–3. https://doi.org/10.4103/0028-3886.246295
Ganapathy K. Telemedicine and neurosciences. Neurol India. 2018;66:642–51. https://doi.org/10.4103/0028-3886.232346
Ganapathy K. Distribution of neurologists and neurosurgeons in India and its relevance to the adoption of telemedicine. Neurol India. 2015;63:142–54. https://doi.org/10.4103/0028-3886.156274
Ganapathy K. Telemedicine and neurosciences in developing countries. Surg Neurol. 2002;58:388–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0090-3019(02)00924-2
Ganapathy K. Telemedicine & neurosciences – A review. J Clin Neurosci. 2005;12:851–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocn.2005.07.004
Haranath SP, Ganapathy K, Reddy KS, Deepak KS. eNeuroIntensive care in India: The need of the hour. Neurol India. 2021;69:245–51. https://doi.org/10.4103/0028-3886.314591
Ganapathy K. Telemedicine: An integral part of clinical neurosciences. Neurol India. 2021;69:352–3. https://doi.org/10.4103/0028-3886.314545
Ganapathy K, Chawdhry V, Premanand S, Sarma A, Chandralekha J, Kumar KY, et al. Telemedicine in the Himalayas: Operational challenges – A preliminary report. Telemed J E Health. 2016;22:821–35. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2015.0249
Ganapathy K, Das S, Reddy S, Thaploo V, Nazneen A, Kosuru A, et al. Digital health care in public private partnership mode. Telemed J E Health. 2021; 27(10). https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2020.0499
Ganapathy K, Alagappan D, Rajakumar H, Dhanapal B, Rama Subbu G, Nukala L, et al. Tele-emergency services in the Himalayas. Telemed J E Health. 2019;25:380–90. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2018.0027
Ganapathy K. Artificial intelligence and healthcare regulatory and legal concerns. Telehealth Med Today. 2021;6(2). https://doi.org/10.30953/tmt.v6.252
Ganapathy K. Space medicine: The ultimate in remote health care. Telehealth Med Today. 2020;5(2). https://doi.org/10.30953/tmt.v5.178
Ganapathy K. Extra-terrestrial neurosciences. Neurol India. 2019;67:165–6. https://doi.org/10.4103/0028-3886.259118
Ganapathy K. Telemedicine and neurological practice in the COVID-19 Era. Neurol India. 2020;68:555–9. https://doi.org/10.4103/0028-3886.288994
Ganapathy K. Telemedicine and Covid 19. Apollo Med. 2020;17:205–8. https://doi.org/10.4103/am.am_84_20
Ganapathy K. Telegenomics: Relevance in India. Apollo Med. 2021;18:122–6. https://doi.org/10.4103/am.am_26_21
Ganapathy K. Telerehabilitation: The time has come. Keynote address. Indian Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 27 June 2021. Available from: https://youtu.be/RNEIZqc3w5A [cited 1 Oct 2021].
Brennan D, Tindall L, Theodoros D, Brown, J, Campbell M, Christiana D, et al. 2010. A blueprint for telerehabilitation guidelines. Int J Telerehabil. 2010;2:31–34. https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2010.6063
Tenforde AS, Borgstrom H, Polich G, Steere H, Davis IS, Cotton K, et al. Outpatient physical, occupational, and speech therapy synchronous telemedicine: A survey study of patient satisfaction with virtual visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2020;99:977–81. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0000000000001571
Richmond T, Peterson C, Cason J, Billings M, Terrell EA, Lee ACW, et al. American Telemedicine Association’s principles for delivering telerehabilitation services. Int J Telerehabil. 2017;9:63–8. https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2017.6232
Fortune Business Insights (2020). Market research report on the global telerehabilitation market size, share and Covid-19 impact analysis and regional forecast, 2020–2027. Available from: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/telerehabilitation-market-103112 [cited 1 Oct 2021].
Fortune Business Insights (2021). Telerehabilitation Market Size 2021. Available from: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/04/07/2205951/0/en/Telerehabilitation-Market-Size-2021-To-Exhibit-13-4-CAGR-and-Hit-USD-9-13-Billion-by-2027.html [cited 1 Oct 2021].
Jansen-Kosterink S, Dekker-van Weering M, van Velsen L. Patient acceptance of a telemedicine service for rehabilitation care: A focus group study. Int J Med Inform. 2019;125:22–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2019.01.011
Dogru-Huzmeli E, Duman T, Cakmak AI, Aksay U. Can diplopia complaint be reduced by telerehabilitation in multiple sclerosis patient during the pandemic? A case report. Neurol Sci. 2021;24:1–4. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-021-05194-2
Neo JH, Teo ST, Lee CL, Cai CC. Telerehabilitation in the treatment of frozen shoulder: A case report. Int J Telerehabilitation. 2019;11:3–8. https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2019.6288
Pastora-Bernal JM, Martín-Valero R, Barón-López FJ, Estebanez-Pérez MJ. Evidence of benefit of telerehabitation after orthopedic surgery: A systematic review. J Med Internet Res. 2017;19:e142. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.6836
Sobierajska-Rek A, Mański Ł, Jabłońska-Brudło J, Śledzińska K, Ucińska A, Wierzba J. Establishing a telerehabilitation program for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in the COVID-19 pandemic. Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2021;133:344–50.
Baadjou VA, Hollander MD, Meulenbroek TV, Verbunt JA, Timmers I. Clinicians’ Initial experiences of transition to online interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation during the Covid-19 pandemic. J Rehabil Med Clin Commun. 2020;3:1000036. https://doi.org/10.2340/20030711-1000036
Bhuva S, Lankford C, Patel N, Haddas R. Implementation and patient satisfaction of telemedicine in spine physical medicine and rehabilitation patients during the COVID-19 shutdown. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2020;99:1079–85. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0000000000001600
Klaic M, Galea MP. Using the Technology Acceptance Model to identify factors that predict likelihood to adopt tele-neurorehabilitation. Front Neurol. 2020;11:580832. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2020.580832
Gately ME, Trudeau SA, Moo LR. In-home video telehealth for dementia management: Implications for rehabilitation. Curr Geriatr Rep. 2019;8:239–49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13670-019-00297-3
Grona SL, Bath B, Busch A, Rotter T, Trask C, Harrison E. Use of videoconferencing for physical therapy in people with musculoskeletal conditions: A systematic review. J Telemed Telecare. 2018;24:341–55. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X17700781
Mani S, Sharma S, Omar B, Paungmali A, Joseph L. Validity and reliability of Internet-based physiotherapy assessment for musculoskeletal disorders: A systematic review. J Telemed Telecare. 2017;23:379–91. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X16642369
Kilova K, Kitova T, Kasnakova P. Telemedicine in help of rehabilitation in the conditions of COVID-19. Health Policy Technol. 2021;10:100508. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hlpt.2021.100508
Laver KE, Adey-Wakeling Z, Crotty M, Lannin NA, George S, Sherrington C. Telerehabilitation services for stroke. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020;1:CD010255. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD010255.pub3
Tchero H, Tabue Teguo M, Lannuzel A, Rusch E. Telerehabilitation for stroke survivors: Systematic review and meta-analysis. J Med Internet Res. 2018;20:e10867. https://doi.org/10.2196/10867
Cramer SC, Dodakian L, Le V, See J, Augsburger R, McKenzie A, et al. Efficacy of home-based telerehabilitation vs in-clinic therapy for adults after stroke: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Neurol. 2019;76:1079–87. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2019.1604
Bashir A. Stroke and telerehabilitation: A brief communication. JMIR Rehabil Assist Technol. 2020;7:e18919. https://doi.org/10.2196/18919
Jácome C, Marques A, Oliveira A, Rodrigues LV, Sanches I. Pulmonary telerehabilitation: An international call for action. Pulmonology. 2020;26:335–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pulmoe.2020.05.018
Almojaibel AA, Munk N, Goodfellow LT, Fisher TF, Miller KK, Comer AR, et al. Health Care practitioners’ determinants of telerehabilitation acceptance. Int J Telerehabil. 2020;12:43–50.
Peretti A, Amenta F, Tayebati SK, Nittari G, Mahdi SS. Telerehabilitation: Review of the state-of-the-art and areas of application. JMIR Rehabil Assist Technol. 2017;4:e7. https://doi.org/10.2196/rehab.7511
Perlman AL, Witthawaskul W. Real-time remote telefluoroscopic assessment of patients with dysphagia. Dysphagia. 2002;17:162–7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-001-0116-2
Rabatin AE, Lynch ME, Severson MC, Brandenburg JE, Driscoll SW. Pediatric telerehabilitation medicine: Making your virtual visits efficient, effective and fun. J Pediatr Rehabil Med. 2020;13:355–70. https://doi.org/10.3233/PRM-200748
Alexander M. It’s corona calling: Time for telerehabilitation! J Frailty Sarcopenia Falls. 2020;5:86–8. https://doi.org/10.22540/JFSF-05-086
Saleh A, Raed A, Faizan K, Mazen A, Ahmad A, Msaad A, et al. Knowledge, attitude, and barriers to telerehabilitation-based physical therapy practice in Saudi Arabia. Healthcare. 2020;8:1–10. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare8040460
van Egmond MA, van der Schaaf M, Vredeveld T, Vollenbroek-Hutten MMR, van Berge Henegouwen MI, Klinkenbijl JHG, et al. Effectiveness of physiotherapy with telerehabilitation in surgical patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Physiotherapy. 2018;104:277–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2018.04.004
Miller TW. Smart advances in healthcare for geriatric patients. Am J Biomed Sci Res. 2019;1:130–1. https://doi.org/10.34297/AJBSR.2019.01.000526
MoneyLife Digital Team (2018). India’s ageing population to reach 300 million by 2050 and raising demand for better services for seniors. Available from: https://www.moneylife.in/article/indias-ageing-population-to-reach-300-million-by-2050-and-raising-demand-for-better-services-for-seniors-report/54140.html [cited 1 Oct 2021].
World Health Organization (2011). World Report on Disability 2011. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241564182 [cited 1 Oct 2021].
IAMAI (2019). Digital in India 2019 – Round 2 Report. Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and Nielsen. Available from: https://cms.iamai.in/Content/ResearchPapers/2286f4d7-424f-4bde-be88-6415fe5021d5.pdf [cited 1 Oct 2021].
TechInsight (2020). TechArc Report. With 502.2 million Smartphone users, it’s time for Smartphone brands to turn towards services in 2020. Available from: https://techarc.net/techinsight-at-502-2-million-smartphone-users-its-time-for-smartphone-brands-to-turn-towards-services-in-2020/ [cited 1 Oct 2021].
CB Physiotherapy (2021). Does Telephysiotherapy work? Who can benefit from it? Available from: https://cbphysiotherapy.in/blog/does-telephysiotherapy-work-who-can-benefit-from-it [cited 1 Oct 2021].
Jachak SP, Phansopkar PA, Naqvi WM, Kumar K. Great awakening – Telerehabilitation in physiotherapy during pandemic and impact of COVID 19. J Evol Med Dent Sci. 2020;9:3387–93. https://doi.org/10.14260/jemds/2020/744
Shenoy MP, Shenoy PD. Identifying the challenges and cost-effectiveness of telerehabilitation: A narrative review. J Clin Diagn Res. 2021;12:1–4.
Ateeq A, Jahan N, Alam MF, Khanum F. Role of telerehabilitation in musculoskeletal conditions during COVID-19 pandemic. Indian J Pain. 2020;34:217–8.
Jayarajan D, Sivakumar T, Torous JB, Thirthalli J. Telerehabilitation in psychiatry. Indian J Psychol Med. 2020;42:57–62. https://doi.org/10.1177/0253717620963202
Medical Council of India (2020). Telemedicine practice guidelines. Available from: https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/Telemedicine.pdf [cited 1 Oct 2021].
Senjam SS, Manna S, Vashist P, Gupta V, Varughese S, Tandon R. Tele-rehabilitation for visually challenged students during COVID-19 pandemic: Lesson learned. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2021;69:722–8. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijo.IJO_2527_20
Christy B, Keeffe J. Telerehabilitation during COVID-19. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2020;68:1489–90. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijo.IJO_1197_20
Khanna M, Gowda GS, Bagevadi VI, Gupta A, Kulkarni K, S Shyam RP, et al. Feasibility and utility of tele-neurorehabilitation service in India: Experience from a quaternary center. J Neurosci Rural Pract. 2018;9:541–4. https://doi.org/10.4103/jnrp.jnrp_104_18
Anushree N, Kavitha R, Harshal TP. Telerehabilitation in India: Points to ponder. Indian J Physiother Occup Ther. 2019;13:18–21. https://doi.org/10.5958/0973-5674.2019.00084.4
Bairapareddy KC, Chandrasekaran B, Agarwal U. Telerehabilitation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: An underrecognized management in tertiary care. Indian J Palliat Care. 2018;24:529–33. https://doi.org/10.4103/IJPC.IJPC_89_18
Garg D, Dhamija RK. Teleneurorehabilitation for Parkinson’s disease: A panacea for the times to come? Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2020;23:592–7. https://doi.org/10.4103/aian.AIAN_566_20
Nishu T, Ruby A, Jitendra PS. Tele-rehabilitation as an adjunct service for geri care: Reaching the unreached. Int J Sci Res. 2015;4:332–4.
Vrinda R, Reni PS. Telerehabilitation in the field of speech language pathology during pandemic COVID-19 outbreak–an analysis in Kerala. Biosc Biotech Res Comm. 2020;13:2281–8. https://doi.org/10.21786/bbrc/13.4/99
Goswami SP, Bhutada A, Jayachandran K. Telepractice in a person with aphasia. J All India Inst Speech Hearing (JAIISH) 2012;31:159–67.
Mohan HS, Anjum A, Rao PK. A survey of telepractice in speech-language pathology and audiology in India. Int J Telerehab. 2017;9:69–80. https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2017.6233
Rao S, Prema K, Yashaswini R. Telepractice in speech-language pathology and audiology: Prospects and challenges. J Indian Speech Language Hearing Assoc. 2018;32:67–72. https://doi.org/10.4103/jisha.JISHA_39_17
Sheetal M, Preeti M, Rekha K, Divya S, Ashutosh M, Dhananjay R. Telerehabilitation for musculoskeletal disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Int J Physiother Res. 2021;9:3765–72. https://doi.org/10.16965/ijpr.2021.106
BharatNet Project (2020). Drishti The Vision Foundation. Available from: https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bharatnet-project [cited 1 Oct 2021].
Leochico CFD, Espiritu AI, Ignacio SD, Mojica JAP. Challenges to the emergence of telerehabilitation in a developing country: A systematic review. Front Neurol. 2020;11:1007. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2020.01007
Maresca G, Maggio MG, De Luca R, Manuli A, Tonin P, Pignolo L, et al. Tele-neuro-rehabilitation in Italy: State of the art and future perspectives. Front Neurol. 2020;11:563375. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2020.563375
Qureshi AZ, Ullah S, Aldajani AA, Basson P, AlHabter AM, Ali T, et al. Telerehabilitation guidelines in Saudi Arabia. Telemed J E Health. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2020.0355
Wikipedia (2021). Telerehabilitation. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telerehabilitation [cited 1 Oct 2021].
Mbada CE, Baderinwa TA, Sanuade CT, Ademoyegun Adekola B, Fatoye C, Maikudi L, et al. Awareness, attitude and expectations of physiotherapy students on telerehabilitation. Med Sci Educ. 2021;18:1–10.
Prvu Bettger J, Resnik LJ. Telerehabilitation in the age of COVID-19: An opportunity for learning health system research. Phys Ther. 2020;100:1913–6. https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzaa151
Choukou A. How the COVID-19 pandemic breaks new ground for in-home telerehabilitation. Active Assisted Living (AAL) Programme, University of Manitoba. 2021. Available from: http://www.aal-europe.eu/pandemic-telerehabilitation/ [cited 1 Oct 2021].
DyCare (2021). How to choose the best telerehabilitation platform: 7 key points. Available from: https://www.dycare.com/products/how-to-choose-the-best-telerehabilitation-platform-7-key-points/ [cited 1 Oct 2021].
Physiopedia (2015). Telerehabilitation and Smartphone apps in physiotherapy. Available from: https://www.physio-pedia.com/Telerehabilitation_and_Smartphone_Apps_in_Physiotherapy [cited 1 Oct 2021].
Oliver M, Teruel MA, Molina JP, Romero-Ayuso D, González P. Ambient intelligence environment for home cognitive telerehabilitation. Sensors (Basel) 2018;18:3671. https://doi.org/10.3390/s18113671
Nuara A, Fabbri-Destro M, Scalona E, Lenzi SE, Rizzolatti G, Avanzini P. Telerehabilitation in response to constrained physical distance: An opportunity to rethink neurorehabilitative routines. J Neurol. 2021;15:1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-021-10397-w
Krasovsky T, Lubetzky AV, Archambault PS, Wright WG. Will virtual rehabilitation replace clinicians: A contemporary debate about technological versus human obsolescence. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2020;9;17:163. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-020-00769-0
Published
Versions
- 2021-11-30 (2)
- 2021-11-24 (1)
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2021 Ganapathy Krishnan
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright of their work, with first publication rights granted to Telehealth and Medicine Today (THMT).
THMT is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
