One of the most applied fields of telemedicine in the last decade is telerehabilitation, which began to gain relevance in 2016. The term “telemedicine” was first introduced in 1993. It is defined as the provision of health services via remote telecommunications and includes both interactive consultation and diagnostic services.

Real-time telerehabilitation for musculoskeletal conditions was reported to improve physical function and pain, making it effective and comparable to conventional methods. Studies have indicated that telerehabilitation is as efficient as face-to-face care in terms of assessment, pain management, functionality and health education.

Focusing on patients, the use of digital tools in the health field has proved to meet their expectations and to be satisfactory, especially in teleconsultations, which are similar to face-to-face consultations.

Telerehabilitation strategies need to be implemented to allow patients to perform their treatment at home while being monitored by the professional telematically, through phone calls, recorded videos and videocalls. There are different tool integration models in telerehabilitation; for instance, some can be more or less difficult to use, and others involve different patient control procedures.

Usually, videoconference systems via computer or telephone as a direct communication strategy with the patient, including the use and support of remote telemonitoring equipment, which allows for monitoring patients’ online activity are used. Also, a cloud-based virtual telehealth system that works with a three-dimensional (3D) form to observe posture and movement, using a digitally simulated trainer to demonstrate and guide activity might be used.

Exercises can be delivered through more complex REMOTE-CR platforms, together with several devices, a smartphone, a portable sensor web applications and customized middleware. Phones might be used not only as a communication device between patients and therapists but for exercise guidance as well.

Not all telerehabilitation devices facilitate bidirectional communication when it comes to exercise execution. Limitations are not related to patients only, since there are others related to the professionals who are in charge of the treatment; the equipment needed both at consultations and at the patient’s home may vary according to the telerehabilitation tool used. Sometimes, in addition, the use of equipment requires bidirectional training.

More about the effectiveness of telematically prescribed therapeutic exercise you can find here: Muñoz-Tomás, et al. (2023). Telerehabilitation as a therapeutic exercise tool versus face-to-face physiotherapy: a systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(5), 4358. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054358

Valverde-Martínez, et al. (2023). Telerehabilitation, a viable option in patients with persistent post-COVID syndrome: A systematic review. Healthcare (11,2, 187). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11020187