The provision of this type of treatment, known as telerehabilitation, has increased further in recent months, since the COVID 19 pandemic called for limiting direct contact between patient and caregiver.
For about five years, multifunctional home telerehabilitation, for patients with neurological outcomes, has been used by the S. Anna Institute in Crotone, which remotely delivers rehabilitation treatments to patients in need of rehabilitation, mainly neurological.
The service is provided through a consolidated system that consists of a remote station installed at the Treatment Centre and a home kit provided to the patient consisting of a tablet, 3 sensors to carry out the exercises, and software for the exercises, provides complete weekly treatments, with the therapist remotely connected, and the patient at home.
All remote treatments benefit from a direct, two-way, online connection; the therapist sends exercises developed in virtual environments to the patient’s computer, which must perform them under his or her supervision by controlling and modifying the exercises.
For motor treatments, the patient has to move a real effector (object or limb) following the trajectory of the corresponding virtual task displayed on his computer.
Cognitive exercises focus on attention tasks and executive functions; language treatments are based on the interpretation of verbal and written words, sentences and stories.
In addition to the excellent rehabilitation results achieved, an analysis of the results clearly shows the emotional benefit that patients and their families derive from this service. The patients are stimulated by the daily encounter with the remote physiotherapist: they are thus more active and motivated, and inclined to take better care of themselves.
Home telerehabilitation, carried out correctly and with targeted exercises, can achieve results comparable to those of conventional therapy.
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