Tele-rehabilitation as Effective as In-Person Care for Chronic Knee Pain: Lancet

A recent study found tele-rehabilitation as a viable alternative to traditional in-person physiotherapy for chronic knee pain. The key findings of this study were published in recent edition The Lancet  the research challenges existing perceptions about the efficacy of remote healthcare interventions.

This non-inferiority randomized controlled trial involved a total of 394 adults with chronic knee pain consistent with osteoarthritis. From primary care physiotherapists in 27 Australian clinics, the participants were randomly assigned to either in-person or telerehabilitation (via video conferencing) consultations. Over a span of three months, both groups underwent five consultations that focused on strengthening exercises, physical activity and educational guidance.

The findings were gathered from December 2019 to June 2022 and unveiled that tele-rehabilitation was non-inferior to in-person care for both pain management and physical function improvement. At the three-month mark, 97% of participants provided data, with both groups reporting significant improvements in pain and function. The mean differences between the two groups were marginal where tele-rehabilitation demonstrated comparable effectiveness.

This study revealed that the incidence of adverse events was similar between the two groups with none reported as serious. This indicates the safety and feasibility of tele-rehabilitation interventions in chronic knee pain management.

This research registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry challenges the conventional wisdom regarding telehealth and opens new avenues for remote healthcare delivery. Overall, tele-rehabilitation holds promise in improving the accessibility and convenience for patients that proves to be equally effective as the traditional in-person care, particularly in the individuals with mobility issues or living in remote areas.

Reference:

Hinman, R. S., Campbell, P. K., Kimp, A. J., Russell, T., Foster, N. E., Kasza, J., Harris, A., & Bennell, K. L. (2024). Telerehabilitation consultations with a physiotherapist for chronic knee pain versus in-person consultations in Australia: the PEAK non-inferiority randomised controlled trial. In The Lancet. Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(23)02630-2