Face-to-face vs. telerehabilitation for thoracic hyperkyphosis in children- A randomized controlled pilot study.
Seda Gözener Canbülbül, Batuhan Canbülbül, Şilan İdil Özcan and 1 others
PMID 42053224WHAT IT FOUND
Telerehabilitation did not differ from face-to-face care for thoracic kyphosis angle after six weeks in 20 children.
Both groups improved angle and discomfort, but the pilot was small and had no longer follow-up.
Key findings
01Thoracic kyphosis angle improved in both groups: face-to-face from 47.10 ± 2.56° to 45.10 ± 2.42°, telerehabilitation from 45.00 ± 2.58° to 43.45 ± 2.25°.
02Discomfort scores decreased in both groups: face-to-face from 7.50 ± 1.08 to 5.60 ± 1.27, telerehabilitation from 7.20 ± 1.32 to 5.90 ± 0.74.
03The between-group change scores for thoracic kyphosis angle, back extensor strength, and discomfort did not differ.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study was a pilot with only 20 children, so it cannot confirm whether the two delivery modes truly differ. No formal sample size calculation was performed; the group size was chosen for feasibility. All participants were aged 9 to 12 and were recruited from a Turkish school setting, so the results may not apply to older children or other populations. Assessments were made only before and after the six-week program, with no longer follow-up, so it is unclear whether the improvements persisted. Back extensor strength was measured by manual muscle testing and discomfort by a subjective visual analog scale, which are less precise than objective dynamometry or imaging.
Declared interests
The authors reported no financial support for the research, authorship, or publication, and declared no potential conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that telerehabilitation is proven equivalent to face-to-face physiotherapy. The pilot had 20 children, no sample size calculation, and no longer follow-up, so the lack of between-group differences does not prove equivalence.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →