Telerehabilitation Technologies in the Medico-Social Rehabilitation of Individuals With Spinal Column and Spinal Cord Injuries



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Abstract

Global rehabilitation practices involving remote technologies in delivering medical and social services to individuals with spinal column and spinal cord injuries were evaluated to assess the potential of integrating telemedicine into comprehensive rehabilitation strategies for this population in the Russian Federation. Accessible publications from PubMed and eLIBRARY.RU from 2020 to 2025 were analyzed. The following keyword combinations in English and Russian were used: spinal cord injury / повреждение позвоночника и спинного мозга, traumatic spinal cord disease / травматическая болезнь спинного мозга, telemedicine / телемедицина, telerehabilitation / телереабилитация, remote rehabilitation / дистанционная реабилитация, remote monitoring / дистанционное сопровождение, remote format / дистанционный формат, video consultation / видеоконсультация, видеосопровождение / video-based support, and remote medical support format / дистанционный формат медицинского сопровождения. Telemedicine, using dedicated equipment and communication tools, provides access to medical and social support for individuals with spinal column and spinal cord injuries. In contemporary international practice, telemedicine services for individuals with spinal column and spinal cord injuries focus on preventing secondary conditions and enhancing physical function and daily activity, psychosocial adaptation, health management, and caregiver engagement. These services are delivered by telephone, video conferencing, or web-based platforms. Positive outcomes associated with remote technologies include improvements in clinical parameters, physical and daily functioning, psychological well-being, and overall quality of life. Moreover, telemedicine is promising for educating and supporting caregivers of individuals with traumatic spinal cord disease. It is a cost-effective complement to in-person care, helping prevent rehospitalizations and contributing to the medical and social rehabilitation of this patient population.

About the authors

Elena M. Vasilchenko

Novokuznetsk Scientific and Practical Center for Medical and Social Expertise and Rehabilitation of the Disabled

Author for correspondence.
Email: root@reabil-nk.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-9025-4060
SPIN-code: 8910-2615
Scopus Author ID: 57190665151

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Assistant Professor, Chief Researcher, Depart. of Medical and Sociovocational Rehabilitation

Russian Federation, Novokuznetsk

Denis D. Bolotov

Novokuznetsk Scientific and Practical Center for Medical and Social Expertise and Rehabilitation of the Disabled

Email: bolotov_d@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1320-0960
SPIN-code: 8846-6802

MD, Cand. Scie. (Medicine), Assistant Professor, Director General

Russian Federation, Novokuznetsk

Olga I. Khokhlova

Novokuznetsk Scientific and Practical Center for Medical and Social Expertise and Rehabilitation of the Disabled

Email: hohlovaoliv@rambler.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-3069-5686
SPIN-code: 2386-7820
Scopus Author ID: 8671455000

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Leading Researcher, Depart. of Medical and Sociovocational Rehabilitation

Russian Federation, Novokuznetsk

Vadim A. Versh

Novokuznetsk Scientific and Practical Center for Medical and Social Expertise and Rehabilitation of the Disabled

Email: root@reabil-nk.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0002-6851-6997

Junior Researcher, Depart. of Medical and Sociovocational Rehabilitation

Russian Federation, Novokuznetsk

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