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Objective of the study: The long-term use of telemedical programs depends not only on their effectiveness, but also on patient acceptance and satisfaction. The effectiveness of telemedical exercise therapy for patients after implantation of a total knee or hip prosthesis and subsequent rehabilitation has already been examined in a randomized controlled study. This article focuses on the patient's acceptance and usage behaviour with regard to the tele-rehabilitation system. Methodology: 48 patients (53 +/- 7 years; 26 women; 35 hip/13 knee TEP) were questioned after a three-month telemedical movement therapy using the Telehealth Usability Questionnaire (TUQ) to determine the acceptance of the technology. The questionnaire consisted of 21 items (seven-point Likert scale) in six scales (e. g. usefulness, quality of interactions, reliability). System-specific questions were summarized on an additional scale. The results were presented as a percentage of the scale (100 estimates complete agreement). The usage behaviour was examined using system-generated process data for training and integrated voice/text messages. Results: The TUQ scales "Usefulness" (Mdn 95.2) and "Ease of use and learnability" (Mdn 92.9) were rated the highest, while "Reliability" (Mdn 57.1) and "Quality of interactions" ( Mdn 71.4) showed the lowest levels. The system-specific scale was placed in the upper quartile (Mdn 85.7). In the first week, 39 patients (81%) and in the second 45 patients (94%) performed at least one training exercise with the system. The proportion of active patients (>= 1 exercise/week) decreased in the further course to 75% (n=36) in the 7th week and 48% (n=23) in the 12th week. The system communication options were initially used frequently after the start of therapy: in the first week, 42 patients (88%) sent messages, 47 patients (98%) received messages from their therapist respectively. In week 7, 9 (19%) and 13 (27%) patients sent/received messages via the system respectively. Conclusion: Most of the patients perceived telemedical movement therapy as useful and user-friendly and seemed to be largely satisfied with the system. This proved to be well suited for short-term use of 6 to 8 weeks following subsequent rehabilitation. Ziel der Studie: Die langfristige Nutzung telemedizinischer Angebote hängt nicht nur von deren Wirksamkeit, sondern auch von der Akzeptanz und Zufriedenheit der Patienten ab. Für eine telemedizinische Bewegungstherapie für Patienten nach Implantation einer Knie- oder Hüft-Totalendoprothese und erfolgter Anschlussrehabilitation wurde die Wirksamkeit bereits in einer randomisiert kontrollierten Studie untersucht. Dieser Beitrag fokussiert die Akzeptanz und das Nutzungsverhalten der Patienten hinsichtlich des eingesetzten telerehabilitativen Systems. Methodik: Zur Erfassung der Technikakzeptanz wurden 48 Patienten (53±7 Jahre; 26 Frauen; 35 Hüft-/13 Knie-TEP) im Anschluss an eine dreimonatige telemedizinische Bewegungstherapie mittels des Telehealth Usability Questionnaire befragt. Der Fragebogen besteht aus 21 Items (siebenstufige Likert-Skala) in sechs Skalen (z. B. Nützlichkeit, Qualität der Interaktionen, Verlässlichkeit). In einer zusätzlichen Skala wurden systemspezifische Fragen zusammengefasst. Die Ergebnisse wurden als Skalenprozent (100 ≙ vollkommene Zustimmung) dargestellt. Das Nutzungsverhalten wurde anhand systemgenerierter Prozessdaten zum Training sowie zu integrierten Sprach-/Textnachrichten untersucht. Ergebnisse: Die TUQ-Skalen „Nützlichkeit“ (Mdn 95,2) sowie „Benutzerfreundlichkeit und Erlernbarkeit“ (Mdn 92,9) wurden am höchsten bewertet, während die „Verlässlichkeit“ (Mdn 57,1) und „Qualität der Interaktionen“ (Mdn 71,4) die geringsten Ausprägungen zeigten. Die systemspezifische Skala wurde im oberen Quartil eingeordnet (Mdn 85,7). In der ersten Woche führten 39 Patienten (81%), in der zweiten 45 Patienten (94%) mindestens eine Trainingsübung mit dem System durch. Der Anteil aktiver Patienten (≥1 Übung/Woche) reduzierte sich im weiteren Verlauf auf 75% (n=36) in der 7. Woche und 48% (n=23) in der 12. Woche. Die systemeigenen Kommunikationsmöglichkeiten wurden nach Therapiestart zunächst häufig genutzt: in der ersten Woche sendeten 42 Patienten (88%) Nachrichten, 47 Patienten (98%) erhielten Nachrichten von ihrem Therapeuten. In der 7. Woche sendeten/erhielten 9 (19%) bzw. 13 (27%) Patienten Nachrichten über das System. Schlussfolgerung: Die Patienten nahmen die telemedizinische Bewegungstherapie überwiegend als nützlich und benutzerfreundlich wahr und schienen im Wesentlichen mit dem System zufrieden, das sich damit für den kurzfristigen Einsatz von 6 bis 8 Wochen im Anschluss an eine Anschlussrehabilitation als gut geeignet zeigte.

Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) is an increasingly popular training method and has become the focus of research in recent years. New EMS devices offer a wide range of mobile applications for whole-body EMS (WB-EMS) training, e.g., the intensification of dynamic low-intensity endurance exercises through WB-EMS. The present study aimed to determine the differences in exercise intensity between WB-EMS-superimposed and conventional walking (EMS-CW), and CON and WB-EMS-superimposed Nordic walking (WB-EMS-NW) during a treadmill test. Eleven participants (52.0 ± years; 85.9 ± 7.4 kg, 182 ± 6 cm, BMI 25.9 ± 2.2 kg/m2) performed a 10 min treadmill test at a given velocity (6.5 km/h) in four different test situations, walking (W) and Nordic walking (NW) in both conventional and WB-EMS superimposed. Oxygen uptake in absolute (VO2) and relative to body weight (rel. VO2), lactate, and the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured before and after the test. WB-EMS intensity was adjusted individually according to the feedback of the participant. The descriptive statistics were given in mean ± SD. For the statistical analyses, one-factorial ANOVA for repeated measures and two-factorial ANOVA [factors include EMS, W/NW, and factor combination (EMS*W/NW)] were performed (α = 0.05). Significant effects were found for EMS and W/NW factors for the outcome variables VO2 (EMS: p = 0.006, r = 0.736; W/NW: p < 0.001, r = 0.870), relative VO2 (EMS: p < 0.001, r = 0.850; W/NW: p < 0.001, r = 0.937), and lactate (EMS: p = 0.003, r = 0.771; w/NW: p = 0.003, r = 0.764) and both the factors produced higher results. However, the difference in VO2 and relative VO2 is within the range of biological variability of ± 12%. The factor combination EMS*W/NW is statistically non-significant for all three variables. WB-EMS resulted in the higher RPE values (p = 0.035, r = 0.613), RPE differences for W/NW and EMS*W/NW were not significant. The current study results indicate that WB-EMS influences the parameters of exercise intensity. The impact on exercise intensity and the clinical relevance of WB-EMS-superimposed walking (WB-EMS-W) exercise is questionable because of the marginal differences in the outcome variables., Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe; 760

Background: Telerehabilitation can contribute to the maintenance of successful rehabilitation regardless of location and time. The aim of this study was to investigate a specific three-month interactive telerehabilitation routine regarding its effectiveness in assisting patients with physical functionality and with returning to work compared to typical aftercare. Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate a specific three-month interactive telerehabilitation with regard to effectiveness in functioning and return to work compared to usual aftercare. Methods: From August 2016 to December 2017, 111 patients (mean 54.9 years old; SD 6.8; 54.3% female) with hip or knee replacement were enrolled in the randomized controlled trial. At discharge from inpatient rehabilitation and after three months, their distance in the 6-minute walk test was assessed as the primary endpoint. Other functional parameters, including health related quality of life, pain, and time to return to work, were secondary endpoints. Results: Patients in the intervention group performed telerehabilitation for an average of 55.0 minutes (SD 9.2) per week. Adherence was high, at over 75%, until the 7th week of the three-month intervention phase. Almost all the patients and therapists used the communication options. Both the intervention group (average difference 88.3 m; SD 57.7; P=.95) and the control group (average difference 79.6 m; SD 48.7; P=.95) increased their distance in the 6-minute-walk-test. Improvements in other functional parameters, as well as in quality of life and pain, were achieved in both groups. The higher proportion of working patients in the intervention group (64.6%; P=.01) versus the control group (46.2%) is of note. Conclusions: The effect of the investigated telerehabilitation therapy in patients following knee or hip replacement was equivalent to the usual aftercare in terms of functional testing, quality of life, and pain. Since a significantly higher return-to-work rate could be achieved, this therapy might be a promising supplement to established aftercare.

Objective: We aimed to characterize patients after an acute cardiac event regarding their negative expectations around returning to work and the impact on work capacity upon discharge from cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Methods: We analyzed routine data of 884 patients (52±7 years, 76% men) who attended 3 weeks of inpatient CR after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or cardiac surgery between October 2013 and March 2015. The primary outcome was their status determining their capacity to work (fit vs unfit) at discharge from CR. Further, sociodemographic data (eg, age, sex, and education level), diagnoses, functional data (eg, exercise stress test and 6-min walking test [6MWT]), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and self-assessment of the occupational prognosis (negative expectations and/or unemployment, Würzburger screening) at admission to CR were considered. Results: A negative occupational prognosis was detected in 384 patients (43%). Out of these, 368 (96%) expected not to return to work after CR and/or were unemployed before CR at 29% (n=113). Affected patients showed a reduced exercise capacity (bicycle stress test: 100 W vs 118 W, P, Postprints der Universität Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe, 574