Current Approaches in Telehealth and Telerehabilitation for Spinal Cord Injury (TeleSCI)

Telehealth and telerehabilitation, known as teleSCI in the context of spinal cord injury, are increasingly used to improve healthcare access and outcomes for individuals with SCI. TeleSCI is frequently applied for preventive care, managing chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and delivering rehabilitation interventions. The field is expected to expand with the growth of video telehealth, wearable monitors, biofeedback, neurofeedback mechanisms, and app-based care.

• 1
  TeleSCI is increasingly common and shows a positive effect on health outcomes, but more research is needed to determine the best practices.
• 2
  Nearly 80% of studies on teleSCI have demonstrated significant improvements in primary outcomes such as mortality, mood disorders, functional improvements, self-management, and quality of life.
• 3
  Video telehealth enhances remote care by improving clinical rapport, interpersonal relationships, and therapeutic alliance, while also allowing clinicians to observe home environments.