Table 2 Summary of effectiveness in different modalities of telerehabilitation in musculoskeletal disorders

Cottrell et al.,

2017 [26]

Any diagnosed primary musculoskeletal condition

Real-time telerehabilitation vs. face-to-face treatment or usual care

Synchronous: real-time telerehabilitation (telephone, videoconferencing software)

Pain, quality of life, disability or function (physical, social or psychological)

Real-time telerehabilitation appears to be superior for the improvement of physical function and reducing disability; and similar in reducing pain and psychological function

Wang et al.,

2019 [28]

Total hip or knee replacement

Tecnology-based interventions vs. usual care or no intervention

Mixed (synchronous and asynchronous): telerehabilitation (phone, videoconferencing; game-based therapy; web-based therapy; or virtual reality devices

Pain and function

Technology-based interventions is superior in reducing pain and improving function

Du et al.,

(2020) [38]

Chronic low back pain

e-Health based self-management programs vs. waiting-list, usual care, or face-to-face health education

Asynchronous: internet-based and mobile-health

Pain and function

e-Health based self-management was superior in reducing pain intensity and improving function in short-term period

Lima et al.,

2021 [30]

Adults with musculoskeletal pain

Web-based pain education vs. minimal intervention (no intervention or booklet) or usual care

Assynchronous: web-based education

Pain and function

Web-based pain education reduce pain and disability compared with minimal intervention

Chen et al.,

(2021) [39]

Low back pain

m-Health and usual care vs. usual care alone

Mixed (synchronous or asynchronous): Telephone calls; text message; mobile phone software, motion sensor biofeedback, and network-based game consoles

Pain and function

The use of simultaneous m-Health and usual care interventions is superior in reducing pain intensity and improving function

Subgroup analyses showed that mHealth using telephone calls is better than mobile health without the use of telephone calls

Lara-Palomo et al.,

(2022) [40]

e-Health intervention based on self-maintenance and education vs. face-to-face intervention (minimal intervention, physical therapy), and nonintervention control groups

Mixed (synchronous and asynchronous): e-Health (information, computer, and communication technology)

Pain, function and

quality of life

e-Health interventions based on self-maintenance and education are as effective on pain and function status as face-to-face or home-based interventions