Revista de fisioterapia y rehabilitación física

Telerehabilitation for Older Adults: Vestibular Physiotherapy vs. Multicomponent Exercise: A Randomized Trial

Abstract

Tunguru Kankayaistu*

This randomized clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness of telerehabilitation interventions for improving functional outcomes in older adults. Specifically, the study compares vestibular physiotherapy and multicomponent exercise delivered through telehealth platforms. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either vestibular physiotherapy, focusing on balance and vestibular function, or multicomponent exercise, which included strength, balance and flexibility training. Over an 8-week period, both interventions resulted in significant functional improvements, as measured by the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale. The vestibular physiotherapy group demonstrated significant gains in balance and confidence, while the multicomponent exercise group showed notable enhancements in overall functional ability. These findings suggest that both telerehabilitation approaches are effective, with each offering unique benefits to older adults’ functional improvement.