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Effectiveness of a structured online rehabilitation program in enhancing functional performance in older adults: A
Anju Joseph1, Diana Rodrigues1, Bhupal Divya Priya1
1M S Ramaiah College of Physiotherapy, M S Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bangalore, 560054, Karnataka, India.
Purpose:
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured online rehabilitation program in enhancing functional performance among elderly individuals.
Materials And Methods:
A 12-week intervention was conducted, comparing two groups: one participating in an online rehabilitation program and the other following a conventional exercise booklet. Functional performance was measured using the Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Timed Up and Go (TUG), 30-s Chair Sit to Stand (CST), and Hand Grip Strength (HGS) at baseline, mid-intervention, and post-intervention.
Results:
Both groups demonstrated significant within-group improvements in functional performance (p < 0.001). In the online rehabilitation group, median TUG time decreased by 1.19 s (IQR: -1.62 to -0.59, r = 0.68), CST increased by 2.5 repetitions (IQR: 1-3, r = 0.71), and HGS improved by 1.10 kg (IQR: -0.12 to 3.67, r = 0.60). The conventional group showed comparable gains: TUG decreased by 0.94 s (IQR: -1.49 to -0.58, r = 0.66), CST increased by 2 repetitions (IQR: 0-3, r = 0.64), and HGS improved by 2.30 kg (IQR: 0.20-3.80, r = 0.58). Between-group comparisons indicated no significant differences in TUG (p = 0.674, r = 0.07), CST (p = 0.121, r = 0.21), or HGS (p = 0.363, r = 0.14).
Conclusion:
The findings suggest that both online and conventional exercise programs effectively enhance functional performance in the elderly. The absence of significant differences between the groups indicates that online rehabilitation is a viable and accessible alternative to traditional exercise programs, particularly for individuals with mobility or accessibility challenges.
