Effects of a telerehabilitation program on functionality in the older people

Abstract

Introduction: Telerehabilitation (TR) is a way of delivering rehabilitation services through the use of internet and telecommunication networks with the purpose of improving the level of functionality in older people.

Objective: To determine the effects of a TR program on the level of functional independence and the number of falls in older people attending a day care center.

Materials and method: 14 older people (x̄ = 74 years), submitted to a kinesitherapy / physiotherapy / physical therapy (PT) program through TR for a period of 12 weeks. The control group received educational intervention through a physical activity booklet which they had to develop independently, with weekly telephone supervision, while the experimental group received 20 PT sessions via video calls through WhatsApp^TM application. Both groups were evaluated pre and post intervention with the Barthel index scale (BI) and the number of falls using the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA).

Results: The experimental group increased the BI score (↑3,6) while the control group decreased this score (↓6,9).  Both groups decreased the number of falls, without differences between groups. When comparing both groups, the elderly who underwent a PT program through TR showed significantly greater improvements in BI than the control group (p <0.05).

Conclusion: Older people who participated in a PT program through TR presented a higher level of functional independence compared to the intervention with a phone call-guided physical activity booklet, which suggests a PT programs through TR as an alternative therapeutics to improve the level of independence in older people.