Usability of Telemedicine in Physical Therapy Rehabilitation: Systematic review

The term 'Telemedicine' was coined in the 1970s to imply 'healing at a distance. Physical therapy rehabilitation (PTR) focuses on the re-institution of function in bodily strength and movement. Covid-19 has created a challenge in one-on-one PTR sessions due to social distancing, which requires the minimization of all non-essential physical contact. Most outpatient services in PTR have had to be staggered and minimized to increase adherence to social distancing requirements and flatten the pandemic's curve. Telemedicine is applicable in PTR in several ways, including guided therapy sessions, and remote monitoring of patient progress through videoconferencing. Telemedicine allows patients to access PTR from the comfort of their homes, which minimizes travel costs and general strain on the body. Although it has been encumbered by various challenges, telemedicine could revolutionize the delivery of PTR while also increasing access to essential healthcare services.

Purpose: Covering the main aspects of telemedicine usability in physical therapy rehabilitation, that encourage using of the telemedicine in physical therapy in the world regions not covered by, especially the Middle East.

Method: A systematic search in libgen.is, jmir.org, wiley.com, sagepub.com, and scholar.google.com. was performed using the search terms: Telemedicine; asynchronous telemedicine; synchronous telemedicine; Covid-19; rehabilitation medicine; physical therapy rehabilitation; videoconferencing; Medicaid programs; telehealth; and HIPAA. Papers published up to Oct. 22nd, 2020, in English, were included.

Telemedicine is cost-effective for physical therapy Rehabilitation particularly in pandemic like COVID19, also it's time and human resources saving especially with hands-off skills rehabilitation.

Telemedicine is a revolutionary aspect of medicine that has seen an unexpected uptake following the Covid-19 pandemic. While people formerly preferred live sessions for PTR, the convenience of telemedicine is increasingly emerging. The various advantages, including reduced cost implications, reduced waiting time, and reduction of non-essential travel to obtain therapy have increased the preference for telemedicine. [9] The WHO recognizes the importance of Telemedicine, and conducted a regional and global survey to analyze its viability. At the onset of global lockdown due to Covid-19, the APTA expressed the need for physiotherapists to utilize telemedicine as an alternative for efficient PTR delivery within the bounds of social recommendations for curve-flattening. Telemedicine in PTR has various advantages including cost reduction, the convenience of access, reduction of long waiting lists among others for the patient. [10] PTR can also be availed to areas that are too remote to have a full-fledged PTR center. Through the utilization of nurse aides and other social support systems, therapists can effectively conduct therapy sessions through videoconferencing. Laws governing the adoption and use of telemedicine for PTR include the HIPAA and other DPL, which regulate the extent to which therapists can collect, use, and store data collected during online therapy sessions. Therapists need to obtain verifiable consent from the patient before commencement.