Living with constant back pain makes it hard to move comfortably or stay active. For many, getting to a clinic for regular physical therapy is a hurdle. A large review of 794 adults looked at whether doing these exercises remotely—known as telerehabilitation—actually helps manage chronic low back pain.
The study found that people using remote programs saw significant drops in their pain levels and improvements in their ability to perform daily tasks compared to those with minimal care. However, the data did not show a clear advantage for remote sessions over traditional, in-person active rehabilitation. It suggests that while remote options are effective, they may work best as a flexible way to keep patients consistent.
It is important to note that the evidence is currently not very certain. Because of differences in how programs were run and small numbers in some groups, it is hard to say exactly how much better one method is over another. Remote care might be a great tool for access, but it is not necessarily a replacement for structured active therapy.
