The Effects of Tele-Rehabilitation in Patients With Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of telerehabilitation on pain, disability, kinesiophobia and normal range of motion in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain. The study included 100 patients aged 18-64 years with chronic non-specific low back pain. In our study, McKenzie extension exercises were applied to 50 patients online via the zoom platform and to 50 patients face-to-face in the clinical environment under the supervision of a physiotherapist in charge. In our study, pain was assessed with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), disability was assessed with the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), kinesiophobia was assessed with the Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale (TKS), and Range of Motion (ROM) was assessed with a goniometer. As a result of our study, there was no statistically significant difference in VAS values between both groups (p>0.05), a statistically significant difference was observed in both groups according to the measurement times and the pain level decreased in both groups (p<0.05). As a result of our study, there was no statistically significant difference in ODI values between both groups (p>0,05), a statistically significant difference was observed in both groups according to the measurement times and the level of disability decreased in both groups (p<0,05). As a result of our study, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in TKS values (p>0,05) and no difference was observed according to the measurement times in both groups (p>0,05). As a result of our study, there was no statistically significant difference in ROM values between both groups (p>0.05), a statistically significant difference was observed in both groups according to the measurement times and ROM values increased (p<0.05). In conclusion, telerehabilitation in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain is as effective as face-to-face exercise training in improving pain, disability and range of motion levels, but the effect of telerehabilitation on improving kinesiophobia has not been found.

Inclusion criteria

• Being between 18-64 years of age,
• Having non-specific low back pain for ≥3 months,
• Not having radicular symptoms related to low back pain

Exclusion criteria

• History of surgery on the spine and/or extremities,
• Diagnosis of malignancy,
• Orthopaedic and neurological disorders affecting the evaluation and treatment, - Psychiatric illness,
• Physical therapy for low back pain in the last six months,
• Being pregnant.