Use of videoconferencing for physical therapy in people with musculoskeletal conditions: A systematic review:

BackgroundPhysical therapists are key players in the management of musculoskeletal conditions, which are common in rural and remote communities. There are few physical therapists in rural regions compared to potential need, so care is either not provided or must be sought in urban centers, requiring travel and time away from work and family to access services. Telerehabilitation strategies, such as real-time videoconferencing, are emerging as possible solutions to address shortages in rural physical therapy services.ObjectivesThis review will: (1) determine the validity and the reliability of secure videoconferencing for physical therapy management of musculoskeletal conditions; (2) determine the health, system, and process outcomes when using secure videoconferencing for physical therapy management of musculoskeletal conditions.MethodsA protocol-driven systematic review of four databases was carried out by two independent reviewers. Study criteria included English language articles from January 2003 to D...