The Application of Telerehabilitation for Pain Reduction and Improving Quality of Life in Workers with Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders: Systematic Review

Disorders of the musculoskeletal system, which includes muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, peripheral nerves, and blood vessels, due to workload and unsupportive work conditions are referred to as work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). In a pandemic situation, virtual activities are the main alternative allowing people to remain active. One approach that can be applied in this situation is telerehabilitation. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the application of telerehabilitation in reducing pain and increasing the quality of life in workers with WMSDs. Based on the search results of 5 databases, 14 articles were found, which then underwent a critical appraisal, resulting in 6 articles to be reviewed. The results of this systematic review indicate that the application of telerehabilitation 2–3 times per week with a duration of 20–40 min for more than 6 weeks may be effective for individuals with neck, shoulder, and low back pain complaints due to an increase in the level of adherence to the physiotherapy program. It can be concluded that the application of telerehabilitation for workers provides benefits that can significantly reduce pain levels and have a positive impact on their quality of life, which affects work productivity and can be seen with the parameters VAS, QVAS, SF-12 HS, SF-36 HS, Work Ability Index, and EQ5D.