DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN PHYSIOTHERAPY: TELEREHABILITATION EDUCATION AND CLINICAL TRAINING

Abstract

Telerehabilitation has emerged as an innovative and essential component of contemporary rehabilitation sciences, enabling healthcare professionals to deliver rehabilitation services remotely through digital communication technologies. Advances in telemedicine platforms, wearable sensors, virtual healthcare systems, and artificial intelligence (AI) have significantly transformed physiotherapy practice and education. The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated the global adoption of telerehabilitation by emphasizing the need for accessible, technology-driven healthcare services and continuity of patient care. This chapter explores the concepts, applications, educational strategies, challenges, and future directions of telerehabilitation training in physiotherapy. Current evidence indicates that physiotherapy students and healthcare professionals demonstrate growing awareness and positive attitudes toward telerehabilitation despite limited formal curricular exposure. Key educational domains include digital literacy, AI-assisted rehabilitation, remote assessment techniques, wearable technology, simulation-based learning, and ethical considerations in digital healthcare. However, barriers such as inadequate infrastructure, insufficient faculty training, curriculum limitations, and resistance to technological change continue to affect implementation. Comprehensive, competency-based training is therefore essential to prepare future rehabilitation professionals for rapidly evolving digital healthcare environments