SynthesisAge and ageing2023
Physiotherapist-led, exercise-based telerehabilitation for older adults improves patient and health service outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Age and ageing, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled 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.
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.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 29 citations in OpenAlex.
- Telerehabilitation for Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis based on randomized controlled trials.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2025Pooled it
- Synergistic Effects of AI-Driven Remote Respiratory Rehabilitation and Cervical Stabilization Exercises on Forward Head Posture, Neck Pain, and Respiratory Function in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2026Trial
- Telerehabilitation and Face-to-Face Exergame Delivery Modalities to Improve Postural Control in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Randomised Controlled Trial.Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Trial
- Telerehabilitation and Face-to-Face Exergame Delivery Modalities to Improve Postural Control in Older Adults: A Randomised Controlled Trial.Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Trial
- Feasibility and efficacy of real-time teleresistance exercise programs for physical function in elderly patients after hip fracture surgery: a randomized controlled trial.BMC geriatrics · 2025Trial
- 'Making a connection': a qualitative study of experiences from a cancer telerehabilitation program.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2024Trial
- Goal Setting During Telerehabilitation in Japan: Qualitative Study of Occupational Therapists' and Physical Therapists' Experiences Using Reflexive Thematic Analysis.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologies · 2026Article
- Article
- The Role of Virtual Physical Therapy in the Management of Musculoskeletal Patients: Current Practices and Future Implications.Current reviews in musculoskeletal medicine · 2025Review
- The Intersection of Sarcopenia and Musculoskeletal Pain: Addressing Interconnected Challenges in Aging Care.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Review
- Clinical Efficacy of Telemedicine for Musculoskeletal Conditions in a Medicare Advantage Population.Telemedicine reports · 2025Article
- Identifying the Added Value and Requirements of Telerehabilitation in Home-based Geriatric Rehabilitation: An Exploratory Qualitative Study.International journal of telerehabilitation · 2025Article
- Methodology for a Series of Rapid Reviews on Virtual Care in Rehabilitation, Reviewing Its Advantages and Challenges to Inform Best Practices.Clinics and practice · 2024Article
- Article
- Access, Readiness and Willingness to Engage in Allied Health Telerehabilitation Services for Adults: Does Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Make a Difference?Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundTelerehabilitation can be an appropriate alternative to face-to-face rehabilitation for adults; however, it is uncertain whether it is safe and effective for older adults.
objectiveThis review aimed to determine the effect of physiotherapist-led, exercise-based telerehabilitation for older adults on patient outcomes (health-related quality of life, activity limitation, functional impairment) and health service costs.
methodsRandomised or non-randomised controlled trials including community-dwelling older adults (mean age ≥ 65 years) who received exercise-based telerehabilitation led by a physiotherapist were eligible. Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Medline, PubMed and Cochrane Library were searched from the earliest available date to August 2022. Methodological quality was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale. Data were synthesised with inverse variance, random-effects meta-analyses to determine standardised mean differences and 95% confidence intervals. Certainty of evidence was determined by applying Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation criteria.
resultsEleven studies (10 randomised) with 1,400 participants (mean age 65-74 years) experiencing musculoskeletal and cardiopulmonary conditions were included. Telerehabilitation was safe, effective and well adhered to. Telerehabilitation was non-inferior to face-to-face physiotherapy in relation to range of movement, strength, 6-min walk distance (6MWD), timed up and go test (TUGT) and quality of life and had lower health-care costs compared with face-to-face physiotherapy. Compared with no intervention, telerehabilitation participants had significantly better range of motion, strength, quality of life, 6MWD and TUGT speed.
conclusionPhysiotherapist-led, exercise-based telerehabilitation is non-inferior to face-to-face rehabilitation and better than no intervention for older adults with musculoskeletal and cardiopulmonary conditions.
Indexed as
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What OpenQuestion holds
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.