Telerehabilitation versus face-to-face physical therapy for middle-aged patients with degenerative meniscal tear in China: a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial
Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of telerehabilitation to traditional face- to-face physical therapy for patients with degenerative meniscal tears in Shanghai, China. Design: A two-arm, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted across two hospitals in Shangha...
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| Language: | English |
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Medical Journals Sweden
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://medicaljournalssweden.se/jrm/article/view/43237 |
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| author | Jiye He Caiqi Xu Lihua Huang Hui Wang Shengdi Lu |
| author_facet | Jiye He Caiqi Xu Lihua Huang Hui Wang Shengdi Lu |
| author_sort | Jiye He |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of telerehabilitation to traditional face-
to-face physical therapy for patients with degenerative meniscal tears in Shanghai, China.
Design: A two-arm, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted across two hospitals in Shanghai, China
Subjects/Patients: Participants with clinically diagnosed degenerative meniscal tears were randomly assigned to either the telerehabilitation group or the face-to-face physical therapy group.
Methods: Both groups underwent a 12-week intervention. Participants in telerehabilitation group used a digital platform for remote physical therapy, while participants in physical therapy group received traditional clinic-based rehabilitation. A predefined non-inferiority margin of 10 points on the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) was applied to determine clinical equivalence between the interventions.
Results: Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in knee function and quality of life, with no significant differences in the KOOS, SF-36, or functional tests at any time point (p > 0.05). Both groups had high adherence rates, with no significant differences in exercise completion or satisfaction scores. The TELE group had a significantly lower total cost compared to the PT group (p < 0.001), demonstrating greater cost-effectiveness.
Conclusion: Telerehabilitation was found to be clinically non-inferior to face-to-face physical therapy for improving knee function, pain, and quality of life in patients with degenerative meniscal tears. It offered significant cost savings, making it a cost-effective alternative to traditional in-person rehabilitation.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-defe77c6e6ba46c59357c2de5aa256ce |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1651-2081 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Medical Journals Sweden |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-defe77c6e6ba46c59357c2de5aa256ce2025-08-22T06:18:42ZengMedical Journals SwedenJournal of Rehabilitation Medicine1651-20812025-08-015710.2340/jrm.v57.43237Telerehabilitation versus face-to-face physical therapy for middle-aged patients with degenerative meniscal tear in China: a non-inferiority randomized controlled trialJiye He0Caiqi Xu1Lihua Huang2Hui Wang3Shengdi Lu4Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Sports Medicine, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Rehabilitation, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Sixth People's HospitalObjective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of telerehabilitation to traditional face- to-face physical therapy for patients with degenerative meniscal tears in Shanghai, China. Design: A two-arm, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted across two hospitals in Shanghai, China Subjects/Patients: Participants with clinically diagnosed degenerative meniscal tears were randomly assigned to either the telerehabilitation group or the face-to-face physical therapy group. Methods: Both groups underwent a 12-week intervention. Participants in telerehabilitation group used a digital platform for remote physical therapy, while participants in physical therapy group received traditional clinic-based rehabilitation. A predefined non-inferiority margin of 10 points on the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) was applied to determine clinical equivalence between the interventions. Results: Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in knee function and quality of life, with no significant differences in the KOOS, SF-36, or functional tests at any time point (p > 0.05). Both groups had high adherence rates, with no significant differences in exercise completion or satisfaction scores. The TELE group had a significantly lower total cost compared to the PT group (p < 0.001), demonstrating greater cost-effectiveness. Conclusion: Telerehabilitation was found to be clinically non-inferior to face-to-face physical therapy for improving knee function, pain, and quality of life in patients with degenerative meniscal tears. It offered significant cost savings, making it a cost-effective alternative to traditional in-person rehabilitation. https://medicaljournalssweden.se/jrm/article/view/43237cost-benefit analysisknee injurymeniscal tearPhysical Therapy ModalitiesTelerehabilitation |
| spellingShingle | Jiye He Caiqi Xu Lihua Huang Hui Wang Shengdi Lu Telerehabilitation versus face-to-face physical therapy for middle-aged patients with degenerative meniscal tear in China: a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine cost-benefit analysis knee injury meniscal tear Physical Therapy Modalities Telerehabilitation |
| title | Telerehabilitation versus face-to-face physical therapy for middle-aged patients with degenerative meniscal tear in China: a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial |
| title_full | Telerehabilitation versus face-to-face physical therapy for middle-aged patients with degenerative meniscal tear in China: a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial |
| title_fullStr | Telerehabilitation versus face-to-face physical therapy for middle-aged patients with degenerative meniscal tear in China: a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Telerehabilitation versus face-to-face physical therapy for middle-aged patients with degenerative meniscal tear in China: a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial |
| title_short | Telerehabilitation versus face-to-face physical therapy for middle-aged patients with degenerative meniscal tear in China: a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial |
| title_sort | telerehabilitation versus face to face physical therapy for middle aged patients with degenerative meniscal tear in china a non inferiority randomized controlled trial |
| topic | cost-benefit analysis knee injury meniscal tear Physical Therapy Modalities Telerehabilitation |
| url | https://medicaljournalssweden.se/jrm/article/view/43237 |
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