Effect of Remote Monitored Home-Based Exercise Therapy via Telerehabilitation on Balance of Patients with Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Bijan  Forogh; Arezoo  Atari; Masumeh  Bagherzadeh Cham; Lobaneh  Janbazi; Simin  Sajadi

doi:10.18502/jimc.v9i3.21823

Bijan Forogh Neuromusculoskeletal Research Center, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Arezoo Atari Neuromusculoskeletal Research Center, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Masumeh Bagherzadeh Cham Clinical Biomechanics and Ergonomics Research Center, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Lobaneh Janbazi Neuromusculoskeletal Research Center, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Simin Sajadi Neuromusculoskeletal Research Center, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jimc.v9i3.21823

Keywords: Exercise therapy, Remote rehabilitations, Rehabilitation, Stroke, Telerehabilitation

Abstract

Background: Rehabilitation has positive physical effects on balance impairments after stroke. In recent years, special attention has been paid to telerehabilitation mainly due to difficulties in access to rehabilitation centers, and the cost of rehabilitation sessions. Preliminary results have shown the positive effects of telerehabilitation on balance of patients post stroke. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of remote monitored exercise programs via telerehabilitation compared with unmonitored home-based exercise programs on the balance of patients with late-sub acute and chronic stroke.

Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 28 post stroke patients were randomly allocated to two groups. They received either 12 sessions of remote monitored home-based exercise programs via telerehabilitation or 12 sessions of the unmonitored home-based exercise programs over four weeks. The patients were evaluated using Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Timed Up and Go (TUG) test before intervention, one month later, as well as one and three months after the end of the intervention.

Results: TUG test scores significantly improved only in the intervention group (p=0.002 vs. p=0.37), while BBS score significantly improved in both intervention and control groups (p=0.001, p=0.02, respectively). The effect of group-by-time interaction was not significant for either TUG [6.38 (-1.39, 14.15), p=0.121] or BBS [1.64 (-1.32, 4.60), p=0.171].

Conclusion: With the rehabilitation approach implemented in this study, unmonitored home-based exercise training is as effective as tele-monitored exercise programs on improving balance of late sub-acute and chronic stroke survivors.