Uporaba telerehabilitacijskih storitev za izboljšanje funkcije zgornjega uda pri bolnikih po možganski kapi
The use of telerehabilitation services to improve the upper limb funcion in patients after stroke

slovenian

2023

volume 22, issue 1

Univerzitetni rehabilitacijski inštitut RS – Soča
(Obvezni izvod spletne publikacije)

Introduction: Stroke causes upper limb impairment in 70 % of the patients, and only 15 % of the survivors experience full recovery of motor functions. The literature describes various therapeutic approaches to improve upper limb function that include the use of intensive, function-oriented exercise. This type of therapeutic treatment can also be provided with the use of telerehabilitation, which refers to the delivery of rehabilitation services at a distance using communication technologies. Methods: In the literature review, we included 9 randomised controlled trials found in the PubMed, Cohrane Library, PEDro, Embase, and CINAHL databases that included rehabilitation treatment to improve upper limb function using telerehabilitation services in patients after stroke. Results: The reviewed trials has shown that telerehabilitation can be an effective therapy for improving upper limb function after stroke. In most studies, the effects of telerehabilitation were comparable to conventional therapy. Therapeutic methods included the use of computer games, robotic devices, virtual reality, adapted Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy, and other forms of telerehabilitation. Patients in the chronic period after stroke were mainly included. Conclusion: Telerehabilitation mainly has a comparable effect on the improvement of the upper limb function to conventional therapy. The use of telerehabilitation services allows greater flexibility in the time and location of therapy and remote monitoring by the therapist. Patients and relatives are mostly satisfied with the use of telerehabilitation, side effects are rare. The included studies were heterogeneous in terms of assessment tools, therapeutic approaches and rehabilitation protocols. There is still an uncertainty regarding which telerehabilitation modality is more effective for improving upper limb function after stroke, and regarding the cost-effectiveness.

08.04.2024