ABSTRACT
Background: Stroke is a leading cause of disability in adults, requiring regular patient-therapist contacts to achieve greater functional regain of the affected extremities. Factors such as the recent Covid-19 pandemic have limited access to Rehabilitation services across several communities globally. A proliferation of telerehabilitation to ameliorate these healthcare challenges has been palpable in the recent years across the globe. Purpose: To assess the effect of telerehabilitation in facilitating upper extremity home program and associated functional regain among chronic stroke survivors. Methods: Two groups pretest-posttest study design was employed. Participants were instructed to perform upper extremity home programs three times a week for four weeks. A task-oriented, individually tailored, and intensive home-based telerehabilitation program was administered to the participants using audio calls. Upper extremity functional status was assessed using Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment, and Wolf Motor Function Test. The Barthel Index was used to assess the extent of activities of daily living. Results: A total number of 14 people were recruited (experimental n=7 age, 58 ± 5.83;control n=7, age 50.71 ± 8.62). Participants showed significant improvement for Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment changed from 17.57 to 25.86 (p=0.02), whereas Wolf Motor Function Test changed from 28.14 to 43.71 (p=0.03). Conclusions: Amidst situations restricting regular hospital visit among stroke survivors;telerehabilitation could serve as an adjunct therapeutic option for upper extremity rehabilitation. Future studies should employ a randomized controlled trial design with a larger sample size to confirm the utility of telerehabilitation.