VIDEOCONFERENCE BASED GONIOMETER AND LONG TERM TELE-ASSISTED PHYSIOTHERAPY EXERCISE PROGRAM FOR HOMEBOUND SENIORS
M-M Bernard, MD, Josée Pelletier, Liane Meunier, PACE
2000 International Foundation, Ottawa, Canada, K1Y OT9;
Steve Brown,B.Ed., BHScPT, Family Physiotherapy Centre, Ottawa,
Canada, K1M 7X3
Introduction: Community
care will undergo significant changes in the next two decades
as a result of changing demographics and of the availability of
new technologies. A Videoconference Based Goniometer (VCBG) was
designed by the PACE 2000 Foundation to measure Range of Motion
(ROM) via videoconferencing, thereby facilitating rehabilitation
in a home setting.
Description: A pilot tele-physiotherapy evaluation and
follow up trial was conducted for 25 homebound seniors, aged 78
± 6 years, using the VCBG. 22 seniors (12 women and 10
men) completed a 3 months physiotherapy exercise program and evaluation
questionnaires at baseline and 3 months, of which 17 completed
VCBG evaluations at baseline and 3 months.
Results: Seniors' appreciation for the physiotherapy exercise
program rated: 9.1 ± 2.4 (on a scale of 0-10), for the
VC connection: 7.9 ± 3.1 and 8.5 ± 1.9 for the feedback
they received from the VCBG evaluations.
Conclusions: Age is no longer a limiting factor for the
adoption of VC based physiotherapy evaluations and follow up in
a home setting. Affordable and customized VC stations may offset
the need for institutionalized care.
©1999 Fondation Internationale PACE 2000 |