Telerehabilitation in older adults with cardiopulmonary diseases and multimorbidity: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Introduction. Telerehabilitation has emerged as an innovative digital health strategy aimed at expanding healthcare access and coverage for older adults with chronic diseases, particularly in settings with limited access to conventional rehabilitation services. Objective. To compare the effects of a multicomponent telerehabilitation program versus home-based physiotherapy on functional capacity in older adults with chronic cardiopulmonary conditions and multimorbidity. Methods. A single-center, randomized, single-blind clinical trial was conducted with 34 older adults randomly allocated to a telerehabilitation group (n = 17) or an in-person home-based physiotherapy group (n = 17). Both groups completed supervised sessions twice weekly for 12 weeks. Physical performance was assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), cardiorespiratory fitness with the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), and functional flexibility with the Chair Sit-and-Reach (CSR) and Back Scratch (BS) tests. Results: Both groups significantly improved SPPB scores (p < .05). The control group improved in the 6MWT (p = .031), while the intervention group showed greater flexibility gains (p = .003). No significant between-group differences were observed (p > .05). Conclusion: Multicomponent exercise–based telerehabilitation produced outcomes comparable to home-based physiotherapy in physical performance, cardiorespiratory fitness, and functional flexibility among adults with cardiopulmonary disease and multimorbidity.