Telerehabilitation in Rheumatic Diseases

Gazi University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Telerehabilitation

Treatments: Other: Telerehabilitation Group

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05493384

7099

Details and patient eligibility

About

Telerehabilitation (TR) became more popular during COVID-19 pandemic due to social isolation and curfew. Exercise is one of treatments for patients with rheumatic diseases that are known to have low levels of physical activity.

Full description

Telerehabilitation (TR) aims to decrease barriers such as distance, time and cost by using technology to patients and clinicians. It provides to obtain rehabilitation for patients who cannot go to a medical center due to physical, environmental or economic inadequacies. COVID-19 is a contagious respiratory disease that is caused Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome causing Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). It was firstly seen in December 2019 in Wuhan, China and spread rapidly all over the world. World Health Organization (WHO) was declared COVID-19 as a pandemic in March 2020. The most common symptoms are fever, cough and dyspnoea. Social isolation and staying home have been suggested to reduce the spreading rate of COVID-19 pandemic in many countries. In addition, curfew except necessity was applied in some countries and time of curfew varied by country. Patients with rheumatic diseases are at higher risk of infections because of disease activity and immunosuppression. In addition, old age and having concomitant chronic disease are among risk factors for coronavirus. Therefore, national health services recommend patients to practice self-isolation and self-quarantine. However, social isolation was concluded with more increased physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyle. Physical inactivity and disuse are proven to cause joint destruction, decreased aerobic capacity and muscle atrophy in patients with rheumatic diseases.The importance and requirement for TR were observed better during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, aim of this study was to investigate the effects of TR on fatigue, depression, anxiety, sleep quality, disease activity and quality of life.

Enrollment: 30 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Between the ages of 18 to 65
• Have diagnosed with Romatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Systemic Lupus Erthematosus or Fibromyalgia

Exclusion criteria

• Being pregnant
• Diagnosed with malignancy
• Had changes of medical treatment in the last 3 months
• Had dysfunction that limited physical activity such as severe neurological impairment, immobility or cooperation deficits
• Had regular exercise habit (minimally three days in a week)
• Had cardiac symphtoms according to New York Heart Association

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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30 participants in 2 patient groups

Telerehabilitation group

Experimental group

Description:

The Telerehabilitation Group will be performed exercise program including stretching, strengthening, posture and relaxation exercises by an experienced physiotherapist for 3 times a week for 8 weeks via Zoom.

Treatment:

Other: Telerehabilitation Group

No Intervention group

No Intervention group

Description:

No additional therapy will be performed to the Control Group and they were suggested to continue their usual physical activity.