The assessment of neuromuscular disease patients by physiotherapists is adapting to pandemic conditions

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has disrupted hospital organisations, with respect to both care and clinical research. Physiotherapists essentially from the US and the UK report their experiencea and offer practical solutions:

  • several clinical trials have been subject to arrangements allowing remote assessment, with the usual nurses, caregivers and/or physiotherapists acting as intermediaries;
  • sometimes, it is a physiotherapist experienced with assessments who travels to the patient’s home;
  • in addition to clinical trials, these remote assessments can also be used for the prescription of specialist equipment and/or technical assistive devices;
  • the live monitoring of these assessments by video streaming, and in general the use of new telemedicine technologies, are proving to be operational and well accepted.

 

Remote Delivery of Motor Function Assessment and Training for Clinical Trials in Neuromuscular Disease: A Response to the COVID-19 Global Pandemic. James MK, Rose K, Alfano LN, Reash NF, Eagle M, Lowes LP. Front Genet. 2021 Oct 29;12:735538.