TELE-REHABILITATION TRAINING AND EDUCATION

Abstract

Tele-rehabilitation (TR) is the delivery of rehabilitation services through information and communication technologies (ICT), enabling patients to receive quality physiotherapy care beyond traditional clinical boundaries. As a rapidly expanding modality, TR has demonstrated equivalence to centre-based rehabilitation in improving functional outcomes, exercise capacity, quality of life, and dyspnoea across multiple chronic conditions.(Cox et al., 2021; Rawstorn et al., 2016) The World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Thoracic Society (ATS) have established evidence-based guidelines affirming TR as a valid, patient-centred alternative for chronic disease management, particularly in pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation.(WHO, 2022; Spruit et al., 2023) This chapter explores the foundational principles of TR, key international guidelines, and their application in cardiorespiratory physiotherapy. Detailed examples including COPD telemonitoring programmes, home-based cardiac rehabilitation using wearable sensors, videoconference-guided breathing exercise protocols, and asthma tele-rehabilitation models are discussed. Challenges such as digital literacy, technological infrastructure, and equity of access are also addressed.(WHO, 2019; MoHFW, 2020)