Telerehabilitation Program in Lumbar Disc Herniation

NCT07501910 | Completed DMC

• 2 other identifiers: NEU-PT2025-0524YL30002
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 46
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of this study was to develop an asynchronous, web-based telerehabilitation exercise and monitoring program and to compare its effectiveness with a traditional brochure-based home exercise program in patients with lumbar disc herniation. The study was designed as a randomized controlled trial including 46 participants who were allocated into two groups: a telerehabilitation group and a brochure-based exercise group. Both groups participated in a structured 4-week home exercise program. The telerehabilitation group received exercise guidance and follow-up through a web-based digital platform, which enabled remote monitoring of exercise adherence and patient-reported outcomes. The brochure group performed the same exercises using printed instructional materials. Participants were evaluated before and after the intervention using standardized and validated assessment tools, including the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) for functional disability, the SF-12 for quality of life, and tests for static and dynamic lumbar muscle strength and endurance.

Conditions

Lumbar Disc Herniation

Keywords

Digital Health; Digital Rehabilitation; Exercise Adherence; Lumbar Disc Herniation; Patient Monitoring Systems

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Pain intensity assessed by Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

  Pain intensity assessed by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Pain intensity measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a 10-cm scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. Higher scores represent greater pain severity. The assessment includes overall pain, pain at rest, pain during activity, and night pain. \[Time Frame: Baseline and after 4 weeks\]Pain intensity measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a 10-cm scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. Higher scores represent greater pain severity. The assessment includes overall pain, pain at rest, pain during activity, and night pain.

  Baseline and after 4 weeks

• Functional disability (ODI)

  Functional disability assessed by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) Functional disability measured using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), a questionnaire consisting of 10 items scored from 0 to 5, with a total score ranging from 0 to 50. Higher scores indicate greater disability.

  Baseline and after 4 weeks

• Quality of life (SF-12)

  Quality of life assessed by the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) Quality of life measured using the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), which generates physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component summary scores ranging from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate better health-related quality of life.

  Baseline and after 4 weeks

• Static trunk muscle endurance

  Static trunk muscle endurance assessed using Diener's trunk muscle test Static trunk muscle endurance measured using Diener's (1992) trunk muscle test, expressed as the duration (seconds) the participant maintains the trunk flexion position until the inferior angle of the scapula lifts off the surface. The maximum score is 30 seconds. Higher values indicate greater trunk muscle endurance.

  Baseline and after 4 weeks

• Dynamic trunk muscle endurance

  Dynamic trunk muscle endurance assessed using Diener's trunk muscle test Dynamic trunk muscle endurance measured using Diener's (1992) trunk muscle test, expressed as the number of complete trunk flexion repetitions performed within 30 seconds. Higher values indicate greater trunk muscle endurance.

  Baseline and after 4 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Telerehabilitation Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants received a web-based telerehabilitation exercise and monitoring program including video-guided exercises, remote monitoring of adherence, and asynchronous follow-up via a digital platform.

Other: Web-Based Telerehabilitation Exercise Program

Brochure Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants received a brochure-based home exercise program including printed instructions and visual materials, with initial face-to-face instruction and no remote monitoring.

Other: Brochure-Based Home Exercise Program

Interventions

Web-Based Telerehabilitation Exercise Program OTHER

Participants performed a structured home exercise program delivered through a web-based telerehabilitation platform. The program included video-guided exercises, written instructions, and asynchronous remote monitoring. Participants recorded their exercise sessions, and physiotherapists monitored adherence and provided feedback through the digital system. The intervention was conducted for 4 weeks, 3 days per week, with 3 sets of 10 repetitions for each exercise.

Telerehabilitation Group

Brochure-Based Home Exercise Program OTHER

Participants performed the same structured home exercise program using printed brochures that included visual and written instructions. Exercises were initially demonstrated face-to-face, and participants continued independently at home without remote monitoring. The program was applied for 4 weeks, 3 days per week, with 3 sets of 10 repetitions for each exercise.

Brochure Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Aged between 18 and 65 years
• Diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation by a specialist physician
• Presence of bulging or protrusion stage lumbar disc herniation
• Willing to participate and provide informed consent
• Having basic smartphone or computer skills and access to the internet (for the telerehabilitation group

You may not qualify if:

• History of spinal surgery
• Presence of extruded or sequestered lumbar disc herniation
• Visual or hearing impairment that may affect participation
• Presence of spinal tumors
• Communication or cognitive problems preventing participation
• Inability to understand Turkish

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Necmettin Erbakan University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Necmettin Erbakan University

Konya, Meram, 42090, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Links

• Related Info

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Intervertebral Disc Displacement

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Spinal Diseases; Bone Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Hernia; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: CARE PROVIDER, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Outcome assessments were conducted by a physiotherapist who was blinded to group allocation. Participants and care providers were not blinded due to the nature of the intervention.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assist Prof.

Model Details: This study is a two-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial comparing a web-based telerehabilitation exercise and monitoring program with a brochure-based home exercise program in patients with lumbar disc herniation. Participants are randomly allocated to one of the two groups and follow a standardized 4-week home exercise protocol. Outcome assessments are conducted before and after the intervention by a blinded assessor.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 19, 2026
• First Posted: March 30, 2026
• Study Start: May 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: June 1, 2024
• Study Completion: September 1, 2024
• Last Updated: March 30, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)