The Effects of Telerehabilitation Versus Home-based Exercise on Muscle Function, Physical Activity, and Sleep in Children with Cystic Fibrosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Aims: To evaluate the effects of telerehabilitation (TG) compared with an unsupervised home exercise training program (HG) on muscle function, physical activity (PA), and sleep in children with cystic fibrosis (CF).

Methods: Thirty children with CF (mean age = 10.2 ± 1.9 years) were randomly allocated to TG or HG. The exercise protocol was applied thrice a week for six weeks in the TG via Skype. The same exercises were sent in an exercise booklet to the HG, and phone contact was made once a week. Muscle function (one-minute sit-to-stand (1-min STS), sit-up, pushup, squat, and plank tests)), PA (Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children), and sleep (Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ)) were assessed before and after the 6-week study period.

Results: The 1-min STS significantly improved in the TG compared with the HG (p ≤ .001, η_p² = 0.474). The sit-up (p = .005, η_p² = 0.247), pushup (p = .002, η_p² = 0.180), squat (p = .002, η_p² = 0.284), and plank (p < .001, η_p² = 0.360) test scores were significantly improved in the TG compared to the HG. No significant changes between groups were seen for PA (p = .261, η_p² = 0.045), ESS (p = .160, η_p² = 0.069), or PSQ (p = .763, η_p² = 0.003).

Conclusion: Children who received TG improved muscle function more than children who received an HG. The effectiveness of longer term TG programs should be investigated in children with CF.