Level of Knowledge in Physical Therapy of Tunisian Physical Education Teachers

Physical Therapy is a profession that helps to restore movement and function following an injury or illness. This study sought to identify the physical therapy knowledge of physical education teachers in Tunisia. This study is a cross-sectional study conducted on several physical education teachers in Tunisia. Participants were given the questionnaire through google forms, and they were all advised to fill it up. A predetermined selection criterion was used to select the participants. Out of 250 volunteers chosen for the study, only 152 questionnaires were selected for the final analysis. A self-administer questionnaire was developed, which includes two parts. Part I collects the demographical data, and part II contains the Knowledge of Physical Therapy. The consent form is attached with the questionnaire, and those who gave consent to use the data were included in the analysis. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0. With the alpha set for significance at <0.05. Overall, it was identified that 84% of the physical education teachers have good knowledge about Physical Therapy services. This study concluded that a more significant proportion of the physical education teachers have a good understanding of physical therapy services provided to the sports personnel in Tunisia. They have good knowledge of physical therapy techniques and services provided, and they also have good knowledge of their role in on-field and off-field management.

Case Managers’ Perceptions About Synchronous Telerehabilitation versus Clinic-based Physical Therapy Services for People with Spinal Cord Injury

People with spinal cord injury (SCI) require extensive rehabilitation to maximize independence and quality of life. Much of this treatment occurs on an outpatient basis through telerehabilitation or clinic-based services. Synchronous telerehabilitation has become increasingly common in recent years, but many professionals remain reluctant to suggest it when clinic-based services are available. This survey study explored case managers’ perceptions regarding advantages and disadvantages of synchronous telerehabilitation versus clinic-based physical therapy services for people with SCI. Respondents were 89 case managers responsible for service provision coordination. Results showed a significant preference for clinic-based rather than telerehabilitation physical therapy services. Relative experience with the two service delivery models significantly affected perceptions. Only facilitating travel convenience differed significantly as a reason for recommending one service delivery method over the other. The incongruity between perceptions about synchronous telerehabilitation and existing literature about its cost, convenience, and efficacy suggests a need for additional education.

EFFECTIVENESS OF PHYSICAL THERAPY SERVICES THROUGH TELEMEDICINE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

The Covid-19 pandemic has greatly impacted physical therapy services. In the context of the physical distancing strategy, physical therapy services at health care centers are very limited. Telemedicine or telerehabilitation offers a solution that is expected to be realized by physical therapy services so that it can be accessed by patients with impaired function and movement from home and can reduce the risk of the getting Covid-19 virus infection during this pandemic. This study aims to systematically review the effectiveness of physical therapy services through telemedicine or telerehabilitation during Covid-19 pandemic. The method used is a systematic review done by searching for articles from Science Direct, Scopus, and Proquest with the keywords "Effective AND Physical Therapy AND Telemedicine OR Telerehabilitation AND Coronavirus". The inclusion criteria are articles published from April 2020 to April 2021, full-text articles, and in English. Research subjects are physical therapy patients who use telemedicine or telerehabilitation. The exclusion criteria were articles that had topics outside of physical therapy services through telemedicine or telerehabilitation during the Covid-19 pandemic. The literature search yielded 30 potential articles and 8 of them met the eligibility criteria. All selected studies show that physical therapy services through telemedicine or telerehabilitation have a good result on the recovery process of movement and body function of patients with cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and neuromuscular disorders during the Covid-19 pandemic. This method of remote health care delivery allows patients to carry out an exercise program at home and reduces their risk of getting Covid-19 virus infection.