How is telehealth being utilized in the context of rehabilitation for lower limb musculoskeletal disorders: a scoping review

Abstract

Background: Telehealth services may decrease costs, improve efficiency, and increase access for health care delivery. Telehealth has been used extensively in rehabilitation of various cardiopulmonary and neurological conditions with high clinical efficacy. However, there appears to be limited information regarding the provision of telehealth for managing musculoskeletal lower limb disorders and injuries. Objective: To determine for which lower limb conditions telehealth has been used, and to describe the delivery mode and the content of that telehealth, when provided by physiotherapists. Design: Scoping review. Methods: A computerized search of Cochrane Library, PEDro, Medline, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, PubMed, and CINAHL was conducted up to the 5 April 2020. A search strategy was developed and adapted to each database. Studies were included if they investigated assessment or rehabilitation of a lower limb musculoskeletal disorder and utilized real-time telehealth physiotherapy sessions. We included primary studies, randomized controlled studies, nonrandomized clinical trials, and agreement studies. Results: Ten studies were included in the review, categorized into two groups: assessment (five studies), and intervention or rehabilitation (five studies) via telehealth. Seven of those studies included patients who had undergone hip or knee arthroplasty. Nine studies utilized synchronous internet-based videoconferencing and one study used phone interviews as the method of delivering assessment or rehabilitation information. Conclusion: Telehealth was used as a means of assessment of a variety of lower limb conditions, while rehabilitation via telehealth was limited to patients with hip or knee arthroplasty.