The Effects of Tele-Rehabilitation in Patients With Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain

The Effect of Tele-Rehabilitation on Pain, Kinesiophobia and Disability in Patients With Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of telerehabilitation on pain, disability, kinesiophobia and normal range of motion in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain. The study included 100 patients aged 18-64 years with chronic non-specific low back pain. In our study, McKenzie extension exercises were applied to 50 patients online via the zoom platform and to 50 patients face-to-face in the clinical environment under the supervision of a physiotherapist in charge. In our study, pain was assessed with the VAS, disability was assessed with the ODI, kinesiophobia was assessed with the TKS, and ROM was assessed with a goniometer. As a result of our study, there was no statistically significant difference in VAS values between both groups, a statistically significant difference was observed in both groups according to the measurement times and the pain level decreased in both groups. As a result of our study, there was no statistically significant difference in ODI values between both groups, a statistically significant difference was observed in both groups according to the measurement times and the level of disability decreased in both groups. As a result of our study, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in TKS values and no difference was observed according to the measurement times in both groups. As a result of our study, there was no statistically significant difference in ROM values between both groups, a statistically significant difference was observed in both groups according to the measurement times and ROM values increased. In conclusion, telerehabilitation in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain is as effective as face-to-face exercise training in improving pain, disability and range of motion levels, but the effect of telerehabilitation on improving kinesiophobia has not been found.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Non-Spesific Chronic Low Back Pain
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Tele-rehabilitation exercise; Other: Face-to-face exercise

Detailed Description

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of telerehabilitation on pain, disability, kinesiophobia and normal range of motion in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain. The study included 100 patients aged 18-64 years with chronic non-specific low back pain. In our study, McKenzie extension exercises were applied to 50 patients online via the zoom platform and to 50 patients face-to-face in the clinical environment under the supervision of a physiotherapist in charge. In our study, pain was assessed with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), disability was assessed with the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), kinesiophobia was assessed with the Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale (TKS), and Range of Motion (ROM) was assessed with a goniometer. As a result of our study, there was no statistically significant difference in VAS values between both groups (p>0.05), a statistically significant difference was observed in both groups according to the measurement times and the pain level decreased in both groups (p<0.05). As a result of our study, there was no statistically significant difference in ODI values between both groups (p>0,05), a statistically significant difference was observed in both groups according to the measurement times and the level of disability decreased in both groups (p<0,05). As a result of our study, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in TKS values (p>0,05) and no difference was observed according to the measurement times in both groups (p>0,05). As a result of our study, there was no statistically significant difference in ROM values between both groups (p>0.05), a statistically significant difference was observed in both groups according to the measurement times and ROM values increased (p<0.05). In conclusion, telerehabilitation in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain is as effective as face-to-face exercise training in improving pain, disability and range of motion levels, but the effect of telerehabilitation on improving kinesiophobia has not been found.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 100
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Gaziantep, Turkey, 27090
    • Sanko University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being between 18-64 years of age,
• Having non-specific low back pain for ≥3 months,
• Not having radicular symptoms related to low back pain

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of surgery on the spine and/or extremities,
• Diagnosis of malignancy,
• Orthopaedic and neurological disorders affecting the evaluation and treatment, - Psychiatric illness,
• Physical therapy for low back pain in the last six months,
• Being pregnant.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Tele-rehabilitation group; Tele-rehabilitation exercise was applied to this group.	Other: Tele-rehabilitation exercise; For this group, McKenzie extension exercises were applied to 50 patients online via the zoom platform.
Active Comparator: Face-to-face group; This group underwent conventional face-to-face exercise.	Other: Face-to-face exercise; For this group, 50 patients face-to-face in the clinical environment under the supervision of a physiotherapist in charge.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Disability	In our study, disability has assessed with the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).	18 months
Pain intensity	In our study, pain has assessed with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Scores range from 0 to 10	18 months
Kinesiophobia	In our study, kinesiophobia has assessed with the Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale (TKS). Scores range from 17 to 68 points.	18 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Range of motion	In our study, Range of Motion (ROM) has assessed with a goniometer.	18 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Pınar Kuyulu
• Investigators: Study Director: Arzu Demirguc, PhD, Professor, Sanko University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 10, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 30, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): June 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 29, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 8, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): March 13, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 5, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 2, 2025
• Last Verified: August 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: pain; kinesiophobia; disability; telerehabilitation; range of motion; Chronic non-specific low back pain; McKenzie
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Back Pain; Low Back Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2023/25

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED
• IPD Plan Description: The publication of the scientific article in a journal might be shared with other researchers.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No