Effect of Telerehabilitation on the Pulmonary Functions, Balance, Cognition and Functional Outcomes among individuals with COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a global health concern with high incidence and mortality rates, largely resulting from airway and alveolar abnormalities that often lead to irreversible airflow limitation. More than 70% of COPD patients are diagnosed at stage 1 or stage 2, as per the GOLD criteria, and may exhibit minimal or no apparent symptoms like exercise limitation and dyspnea. However, these individuals still face significant challenges affecting their physical independence and overall health. Exercise training is a powerful intervention to improve exercise tolerance, skeletal and respiratory muscle function, movement efficiency, dyspnoea and fatigue symptoms, and health-related quality of life. The traditional methods are often ineffective for this population due to barriers such as geographic distance, limited access to healthcare facilities, and financial constraints. The primary pulmonary rehabilitation programs delivered by telerehabilitation can provide a clinically effective alternative to centre-based rehabilitation models. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of telerehabilitation on pulmonary outcomes, balance, cognition, and functional outcomes in individuals with mild to moderate COPD. This research aims to bridge the existing gap by providing insights into functional outcomes and the potential of telerehabilitation to improve Activities of Daily Living (ADL) performance. The findings from this research could provide valuable insights into the role of telerehabilitation in managing COPD, particularly in enhancing daily functional capacity. In this study, individuals with COPD (FEV1 > 50%) aged between 45-80 years will be invited from respiratory medicine for screening purposes. The 60 eligible candidates, as per the eligibility criteria, will be selected, and consent will be procured. Further, they will be divided into two random groups, Group 1 (Experimental Group) will receive telerehabilitation, whereas Group 2 (Control Group) will receive conventional rehabilitation. Participants will undergo a structured pre- and post-test (after 6 weeks) evaluation to assess the impact of telerehabilitation on their pulmonary outcomes, balance, cognition, and functional outcomes. At the baseline and end of the program, the pulmonary outcomes will be measured with the help of RMS Helios 401, functional outcomes using Londrina ADL protocol, cognition with MoCA, and balance using the Berg Balance Scale will be administered. Data collected will be statistically analysed to determine the effectiveness of telerehabilitation. Comparative analysis between pre-and post-test results will be conducted to evaluate improvements in functional performance, and the findings will be used to assess the intervention’s efficacy.