There are limited research which directly compares the effectiveness of telerehabilitation and home-based exercise programs in pain relief and functional improvement in knee OA.The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of telerehabilitation and home-based exercise programs in reducing pain and improving functional outcomes in patients with knee osteoarthritis.The study seeks to determine which approach offers better benefits in managing knee OA in improving pain and enhancing mobility, and improving patients' functional outcomes
20 patients clinically diagnosed as knee osteoarthritis as per ACR criteria with age group of 40-70 years,both the gender and with pain in knee, VAS score >3 and 7, Less than 30 minutes of morning stiffness,Crepitus on active motion,Bony tenderness,Intact sensation in and around the knee joint and willing to take part in the study were included. ditions in last 3 months were included in the study.Participants were randomly allocated into 2 groups -Group A recieved exercise through Tele-rehabilitation via video conference with hot pack prior to treatment session and Group B were advised exercise and hot pack as home-based exercise programme. Participants in Group B were reminded to perform exercises regularly by a phonecall done every 3 days and they were instructed to maintain exercise diary.Participants were given/instructed 12 treatment session for 6 days a week.
OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain was assessed with VAS score and function with mWOMAC on the 1st day pre-intervention and on 13th day post-intervention i.e a day after completion of 12 sessions of treatment.
Intragroup comparison between both the groups for pre and post intervention was assessed. Statistical significant difference was found in VAS, and mWOMAC in both the groups after intervention (p0.05) at 95% confidence interval. The intergroup comparison between two groups post intervention was done using mean difference of both the groups. The pain (VAS, p=0.001) and function (mWOMAC, p=0.001) was found statistically significant. The effect size was calculated using Cohen’s d which were as follows: VAS; (d=2.47), mWOMAC (d=2.10). The effect size for both outcomes was very large for between group analysis, suggesting Tele-rehabilitation to be more effective.
This study concludes that both telerehabilitation and home-based exercise programs, combined with hot packs, effectively reduce pain and improve functional outcomes in knee osteoarthritis patients. However, telerehabilitation proved superior in enhancing pain relief and functional improvement compared to home-based exercises.
This study has tried to open the door to considering telerehabilitation as an effective alternative to home-based exercises that enhance patient outcomes.
Home based exercises
Knee Osteoarthritis
