Exploring the Impact of Telerehabilitation on Physical Performance in Patients with Pulmonary Fibrosis

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a heterogeneous group of lung parenchymal diseases. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) are typical idiopathic interstitial pneumonias associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and reduced quality of life. Exercise training is effective for patients with various ILDs. Telerehabilitation is effective for chronic conditions and feasible in Finland via the Health Village website. We aimed to introduce the Health Village's telerehabilitation protocol for patients with IPF or NSIP.

We created a digital care pathway for patients with ILD on the Health Village website. It includes lectures, tasks, instructional videos, and guidance sessions conducted by five domain experts: a pulmonologist, physiotherapist, nutrition therapist, palliative care nurse, and social worker. We randomly selected 20 patients with ILD from Helsinki University Hospital to test the digital pathway. Each participant underwent telerehabilitation for approximately 6 months.

Statistically significant changes were observed in variables evaluating exercise and functional capacity. The average improvement in the 6-min walking distance was 30 m (p = 0.004). The 1-min sit-to-stand test showed an average increase of five repetitions (p < 0.001). No statistically significant differences were found in the other measures of functional capacity or quality of life. The feedback highlighted satisfaction with the telerehabilitation.

Telerehabilitation through the Health Village pathway improved exercise and functional capacity in ILD patients, indicating its feasibility as an alternative to conventional rehabilitation. With notable physical performance improvements, telerehabilitation is a practical addition to conventional care and a viable alternative to in-person rehabilitation.