An Affordable, User-friendly Telerehabilitation System Assembled Using Existing Technologies for Individuals Isolated With COVID-19: Development and Feasibility Study.
Masahiko Mukaino, Tsuyoshi Tatemoto, Nobuhiro Kumazawa and 4 others
PMID 33279877WHAT IT FOUND
Ten isolated patients with COVID-19 completed a single telerehabilitation session using a tablet, video call, remote control and pulse oximeter.
They reported high satisfaction, and the exercise was reported as safe with oxygen monitoring.
Key findings
01Nine of 10 patients completed the session without on-site assistance.
02The mean total satisfaction score was 65.2 of 70 points.
03The exercise program was reported as safe, with no significant decrease in oxygen saturation.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study had only 10 patients, so it is a small feasibility sample, not a test of effectiveness. Only one 20-minute session was delivered, and no longer-term functional outcome was assessed. The system was tested in hospital isolation rooms with a stable Wi-Fi connection, so results may not apply to homes or poorer connections. Patients who needed oxygen therapy, had hearing loss, severe orthopedic or neurologic disease, or could not understand instructions were excluded, so sicker or communication-impaired patients are not represented. Only one physical therapist provided the service, so therapist-side workload and usability were not well tested. The therapist controlled the tablet remotely, so the patient did not fully operate the system alone, and the contribution of each device or app cannot be separated.
Declared interests
None declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read high satisfaction and safe monitoring as proof that telerehabilitation prevents functional decline. The study had 10 patients, one session, and did not test whether functioning was maintained.