The Effect of Telerehabilitation on Pain, Physical and Biopsychosocial Factors in Parent Carers

Özel Gereksinimli Çocuğu Olan Ebeveynlerde Telerehabilitasyon Uygulamasının Ağrı, Yetersizlik, Anksiyete ve Depresyon, Fiziksel Aktivite Seviyesi ve Yaşam Kalitesi Üzerine Etkisi

This study aimed to investigate the effects of asynchronous video-based exercises on pain, disability, anxiety, care burden and quality of life in parent carers of children with special needs.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of asynchronous video-based exercises on pain, disability, anxiety, care burden and quality of life in parent carers of children with special needs.

Parents carers were invited to participate in the study through a variety of channels, including printed posters, corporate social media posts, phone calls through local administrations and non-governmental associations. At the information meeting, the participants were informed about the benefits of ergonomic training for activities of daily living. Also handbooks containing the same information were distributed. Demographic data were collected, and questionnaires were used to assess pain, disability, physical activity levels, care burden, and quality of life.

Individuals who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to either the exercise group or the control group. The exercise group was informed of the details of the study methodology, technology literacy, and tablet usage. In order to ascertain an appropriate exercise programme for each individual, the researchers identified musculoskeletal problems of participants. The exercise programme comprised videos of relaxation, postural control and muscle strengthening exercises, which were recorded by research team and uploaded to the tablets. Subsequently, the participants were informed of the safety precautions during the exercise programme at home and the ergonomic placement of the tablets.

The eight-week exercise programme required participants to perform the exercises on a regular basis, three times per week, with the assistance of guided videos. Additionally, they were required to record their performance in written exercise diaries, which were distributed to them.

Exercises also supported by online calls made by the researchers once a week. In each interview, the participants were reminded of the next scheduled online interview activity. At the end of the eight-week, final evaluations were obtained through face-to-face interviews.

Inclusion Criteria:

• The individual must be the primary caregiver of a child with physical, mental, or a combination of both disabilities.
• The individual must have been in this role for a minimum of six months.
• Willing to participate in the study.
• Able to read and write in Turkish.

Exclusion Criteria:

• A clear cognitive or language disability
• A recent deterioration of family relationships or the presence of factors affecting them (separation of parents, divorce, etc.)
• A history of cardiac or pulmonary disease or diseases (uncontrolled hypertension, arrhythmia, COPD, asthma, etc.), neurological disease, orthopaedic or rheumatological disease (rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, arthrosis, etc.)
• A disease that may prevent exercise or that has resulted in surgery