Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34956637›Full record

SynthesisJournal of global health2021

The utility of physiotherapy assessments delivered by telehealth: A systematic review.

Cherie Zischke, Vinicius Simas, Wayne Hing, Nikki Milne, Alicia Spittle, Rodney Pope

Registry-linked trialOpen access · goldAbstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of global health, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07497360 (Consistency Between Tele-Assessment and Face-to-Face Assessment Results of the 30-Second Sit-to-Stand Test in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease), which is not on this map. Cited by 28 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
28citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
7.3field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT07497360 recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

Consistency Between Tele-Assessment and Face-to-Face Assessment Results of the 30-Second Sit-to-Stand Test in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease

Typeobservational_patient_registrySponsorIzmir Democracy UniversityRan2026 to 2026Enrolled45ConditionsPeripheral Arterial Disease
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

28 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 57 citations in OpenAlex.

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  13. Tele-assessment in limb-girdle muscular dystrophy: feasibility and reliability of patient-led asynchronous method.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Cherie ZischkeFaculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond Institute of Health and Sport, Bond University, Robina, Queensland, Australia.
Vinicius SimasFaculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond Institute of Health and Sport, Bond University, Robina, Queensland, Australia.
Wayne HingFaculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond Institute of Health and Sport, Bond University, Robina, Queensland, Australia.
Nikki MilneFaculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond Institute of Health and Sport, Bond University, Robina, Queensland, Australia.
Alicia SpittleFaculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Rodney PopeSchool of Allied Health, Exercise and Sports Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Albury, New South Wales, Australia.
Bond University · AUCharles Sturt University · AUUniversity of Melbourne · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTelehealth use is increasing due to its ability to overcome service access barriers and provide continued care when disease transmission is of concern. However, little is known of the validity, reliability and utility of performing physiotherapy assessments using synchronous forms of telehealth across all physiotherapy practice areas. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the current clinometric value of performing physiotherapy assessments using synchronous forms of telehealth across all areas of physiotherapy practice.

methodsA comprehensive search of databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, Embase and EBSCO) was undertaken to identify studies investigating the clinometric value of performing physiotherapy assessments using synchronous forms of telehealth across all physiotherapy practice areas. Following selection, a quality appraisal was conducted using the Brink and Louw or Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Evidence regarding validity, reliability and utility of synchronous telehealth physiotherapy assessments was extracted and synthesised using a critical narrative approach.

resultsThirty-nine studies conducted in a variety of simulated (n = 15) or real-world telehealth environments (n = 24), were included. The quality of the validity, reliability and utility studies varied. Assessments including range of movement, muscle strength, endurance, pain, special orthopaedic tests (shoulder/elbow), Berg Balance Scale, timed up and go, timed stance test, six-minute walk test, steps in 360-degree turn, Movement Assessment Battery for Children (2

conclusionsPerforming physiotherapy assessments using synchronous forms of telehealth appears valid and reliable for specific assessment types in limited populations. Further research is needed in all areas of physiotherapy practice, to strengthen the evidence surrounding its clinometric value. Clinicians contemplating using this assessment mode should consider the client/family preferences, assessment requirements, cultural needs, environment, cost considerations, access and confidence using technology. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO: CRD42018108166.

Indexed as

TelemedicineChildHumansPhysical Therapy ModalitiesReproducibility of Results

Identifiers

PMID34956637
PMCPMC8684795
OpenAlexW4200173246

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.