Scoliosis: online exercises versus telerehabilitation. A feasibility trial

BACKGROUND: During the interruption of the non-urgent healthcare services in Italy due to the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic, telemedicine proved to be an effective alternative, in that it supported exercise delivery in individuals with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Recent scientific evidence demonstrates its feasibility and patient satisfaction. During the lockdown period, the Department of Pediatric Orthopedics at the Istituto di Cura Città di Pavia supported subjects affected by AIS in two manners: online with the physical therapist (TR) and by using pre-recorded videos (VE). The aim of the present exploratory trial was to evaluate the practice of telerehabilitation in order to employ it in case of new lockdown measures. METHODS: Adherence, perceived enjoyment during the exercise performance and degree of satisfaction with technology were assessed on 18 subjects with AIS, divided into two groups according to the type of exercise administration (seven patients in TR; 11 patients in VE). RESULTS: The VE group shows a more noticeable adherence than the TR group. Nonetheless, the perceived enjoyment is more significant in the TR subjects than in the VE ones. The level of satisfaction with technology is positive in both groups under study, without remarkable differences. CONCLUSIONS: The exercise administered at a distance has been positively perceived by all the subjects, though on different levels according to the type of technology employed. Results speak in favor of the use of technology as a means to therapeutic exercise delivery in individuals with AIS. Nevertheless, it is not clear which of the two types it is better to suggest. Biopsychologically speaking, the individual choice is likely to be the most workable solution.