In terms of health, the Internet can be used to collect data or to search for information. But it could also be a vector to overcome the lack of therapists. A study published in Annals of Internal Medicine looked at the case of osteoarthritis of the knee. No treatment for this pathology, but adapted physical exercises focused on the mobility of the joint, and training in the psychological management of pain have already proven their worth. Problem: finding a health professional to prescribe and supervise these exercises is sometimes impossible. To each problem its solution, and here, it would therefore come from the Internet.
Exercises supervised by Internet
To test their hypothesis, the researchers separated 148 people with chronic knee pain into two groups. The first followed for three months a program of 7 sessions on Skype (video messaging) with a physical therapist, who explains the physical and psychological exercises to be performed at home. The second group, called “control”, had access to educational documents online.
The scientists measured the level of pain and functionality of the knee joint at the start of the research, and then 3 and 6 months later. The participants in the first group reported a significantly lower level of pain than the others, and improvements in the mobility of their knee. For the researchers, these results indicate the importance of telemedicine and its various applications to take care of patients cheaply and easily.
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