A Comparative Study on Effectiveness and Patient Satisfaction: Telehealth Rehabilitation Versus Traditional In-Clinic Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Background: With the growing integration of telehealth into therapeutic settings, particularly for chronic conditions like knee osteoarthritis, there is an increasing need to compare its effectiveness against traditional in-clinic therapy modalities. Telehealth offers a promising alternative for delivering rehabilitation services, especially when geographical or mobility constraints limit access to traditional care.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness and patient satisfaction between telehealth rehabilitation and traditional in-clinic therapy in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

Methods: A total of 64 patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned into two groups: RehabGroup1 (n=32, 18 males, 14 females) received telehealth rehabilitation, and ClinicalGroup2 (n=32, 22 males, 10 females) underwent traditional in-clinic therapy. The intervention lasted for six weeks, with outcomes measured in terms of knee extensor strength, knee range of motion, and stair climbing performance. Data were collected at baseline and after the intervention period, with changes analyzed using ANOVA.

Results: Both groups showed significant improvements from baseline to the 6th week. RehabGroup1 exhibited an increase in knee extensor strength from 45.2 (±5.6) to 49.7 (±5.8), knee range of motion from 100.5 (±10.2) degrees to 105.3 (±10.0) degrees, and a decrease in stair climbing time from 18.6 (±2.4) seconds to 17.1 (±2.1) seconds. ClinicalGroup2 showed similar improvements, with knee extensor strength increasing from 45.0 (±5.8) to 49.5 (±5.7), knee range of motion from 100.3 (±10.5) degrees to 105.0 (±9.8) degrees, and stair climbing time decreasing from 18.7 (±2.5) seconds to 17.2 (±2.2) seconds. The statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between the two groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: The study concluded that telehealth rehabilitation is as effective as traditional in-clinic therapy in improving functional outcomes for patients with knee osteoarthritis. This supports the potential for telehealth to be a viable alternative to traditional therapy, offering comparable benefits.