The effect of tele-rehabilitation on pain, kinesiophobia and disability 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 both groups, the exercise session was completed in approximately 25-30 minutes. 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. Statistical analyses were performed with the help of SPSS 22.0 software. p<0.05 significance level was selected. 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 is as effective as face-to-face exercise training in improving pain, disability and normal joint motion in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain, but the effect of telerehabilitation on improving kinesiophobia was not observed. In conclusion, McKenzie exercises applied with telerehabilitation under the supervision of a physiotherapist may be an alternative exercise approach in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain. Keywords:. Chronic non-specific low back pain; Telerehabilitation; McKenzie; Disability; Kinesiophobia; Pain; Range of motion.