Efficacy of telerehabilitation in inpatients with stroke: A pilot randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background:

Telerehabilitation could be a substitution for regular rehabilitation in an epidemic situation. Furthermore, there is no evidence of the effectiveness of telerehabilitation in stroke inpatients.

Objectives:

To assess the effects of telerehabilitation on daily life function, mobility, and quality of life in stroke inpatients.

Methodology:

Inpatients with stroke were randomly assigned to either the telerehabilitation group (n = 12) or the control group (n = 12) for 10 treatment sessions.

Results:

No significant differences were found in the outcome measures. However, both groups showed significant improvements in the Modified Barthel Index and Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke scores. The telerehabilitation group improved in Functional Ambulation Categories scores, while the control group showed improvement in Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores.

Conclusion:

This pilot study suggests that telerehabilitation may be a feasible alternative during the pandemic. However, due to the small sample size and the potential influence of natural recovery, the findings remain preliminary. Larger studies are necessary to more definitively assess the effectiveness of telerehabilitation compared to conventional rehabilitation.