A new study published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery suggests that knee replacement patients undergoing telerehabilitation experience the same results as patients who undergo traditional postoperative rehabilitation, according to an AAOS news release.
Telerehabilitation is an Internet-based postoperative rehabilitation program that can be conducted from the patient's home and has become a popular alternative for patients who live in remote areas. For the study, researchers enrolled 65 patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty and randomly received six weeks of either traditional outpatient rehabilitation services or the telerehabilitation over the internet.
Patients in the telerehabilitation group received rehab through real-time interaction with physical therapists via the Internet-based system. The therapy sessions were 45 minutes long and consisted of self-applied techniques along with exercises and education in postoperative management of the affected knee.
Following the program, researchers found that participants in the telerehabilitation group achieved outcomes comparable to those of the conventional rehabilitation group, and far better in some results, including a reduction in joint stiffness. These patients also showed significant improvement in specific functional areas designed to mimic daily activities.
Read the AAOS news release about telerehabilitation.
Read other coverage on AAOS:
- AAOS: Guideline and Recommendations on Rotator Cuff Repair
- AAOS: Advise Patients Not to Drive After Foot or Ankle Surgery
- AAOS: 10 Biggest Stories in Orthopedics for 2010
Telerehabilitation is an Internet-based postoperative rehabilitation program that can be conducted from the patient's home and has become a popular alternative for patients who live in remote areas. For the study, researchers enrolled 65 patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty and randomly received six weeks of either traditional outpatient rehabilitation services or the telerehabilitation over the internet.
Patients in the telerehabilitation group received rehab through real-time interaction with physical therapists via the Internet-based system. The therapy sessions were 45 minutes long and consisted of self-applied techniques along with exercises and education in postoperative management of the affected knee.
Following the program, researchers found that participants in the telerehabilitation group achieved outcomes comparable to those of the conventional rehabilitation group, and far better in some results, including a reduction in joint stiffness. These patients also showed significant improvement in specific functional areas designed to mimic daily activities.
Read the AAOS news release about telerehabilitation.
Read other coverage on AAOS:
- AAOS: Guideline and Recommendations on Rotator Cuff Repair
- AAOS: Advise Patients Not to Drive After Foot or Ankle Surgery
- AAOS: 10 Biggest Stories in Orthopedics for 2010