Students have been supporting stroke patients in their recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic through supporting them with physiotherapy sessions online.
With significant pressure on NHS resources during the peak of the pandemic, many non-urgent appointments were cancelled, which meant many patients going without consultation for many months.
Research has predicted that withdrawing or offering only skeleton cardiac rehab services is likely to lead to a 30 per cent rise in unplanned hospital admissions, which can impact on quality of life and mental health.
In response to this, physiotherapy students at Brunel University London launched a series of Zoom sessions for patients in their borough, enabling them to continue with their rehab remotely and providing an alternative to having to miss crucial follow-up treatment.
The project engaged 60 heart attack and stroke survivors and makes use of the telerehab approach which is becoming increasingly commonplace in physiotherapy after being adopted during the pandemic.
“Students are leading the way in delivering physiotherapy remotely to people with heart and circulatory conditions, effectively supporting this high-risk population in their homes, while learning first-hand,” says Brunel lecturer Dr Jenni Jones.
“It’s a win-win.”
People with stroke conditions and long-term chronic heart disease, who live in Boris Johnson’s Uxbridge constituency, have been supported by Dr Jones’ Exercise4MyHealth programme since 2018.
Working alongside NHS community services, students would assess and run classes for locals with these conditions on campus. However, that stopped with lockdown in April due to lockdown, meaning students had to find a way to adapt.
“Our students have been phenomenal getting people, some totally non-technical, up and running to continue their rehab virtually despite some having only a landline,” said Dr Jones.
“I’ve seen some real innovation with students designing health promotion workshops and leaflets, creating bespoke programmes and videos and watching videos of their participant’s progress.”
Cardiovascular conditions like heart attack and stroke are one of the biggest killers in the UK. Patients are mostly more vulnerable and less technically enabled, and about 80% of them have at least one other condition – putting them at high-risk from COVID-19.
After screening and help with Zoom, Exercise4MyHealth Zoom patients are sent an activity monitor to wear on their thigh. Unlike most other motion sensors such as Fitbit, the device, ActivPAL, can tell if the wearer has been standing or sitting and accurately captures sedentary time.
After seven days, they post the monitor back to the student who then makes a report and is supervised to design the patient a personalised activity and health plan.
“One of the biggest problems with conventional cardiac rehab services is access,” says Dr Jones.
“Our virtual delivery is innovative, person-focused and enables a tailored personalised approach. We’re seeing virtual can be done, it works incredibly well.”
Since they took services virtual, not one patient has dropped out of their rehab and the university is soon looking to roll it out further.
Phil Rumball, 73, a patient who took part in the project, says: “Zoom came to the rescue.
“There have been so many benefits for me in respect of my health, fitness and socialisation.
“Working with the students makes me feel valued and helps my self-esteem. l am able to give something back.”
