Online Videos as a Source of Physiotherapy Exercise Tutorials for Patients with Lumbar Disc Herniation—A Quality Assessment

Stephan Heisinger, Dominikus Huber, Michael Paul Matzner, Timothy Hasenoehrl, Stefano Palma, Julia Sternik, Carmen Trost, Michael Treiber, Richard Crevenna and Josef Georg Grohs
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Stephan Heisinger: Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Dominikus Huber: Department of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Occupational Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Michael Paul Matzner: Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Timothy Hasenoehrl: Department of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Occupational Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Stefano Palma: Department of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Occupational Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Julia Sternik: Department of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Occupational Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Carmen Trost: Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Michael Treiber: Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Richard Crevenna: Department of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Occupational Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Josef Georg Grohs: Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-11

Abstract: Background: During the last few decades the prevalence of lumbar disc herniation has been increasing constantly, thereby imposing a significant socioeconomic burden. Physiotherapy plays a crucial role in both surgical and conservative treatment of lumbar disc herniation, consequently the current COVID-19 pandemic with concomitant lockdowns has led to a shortage of physiotherapeutical care. In the light of these recent events publicly available physiotherapy tutorials may be a useful tool to address this problem. Aim: The main aim of this study was to assess the quality of online physiotherapy exercise tutorials for lumbar disc herniation. Materials & Methods: With YouTube being a widely known and used platform we screened 240 of the most viewed videos. A total of 76 videos met the inclusion criteria and were statistically analyzed. The videos were assessed using Global Quality Score, DISCERN Score and JAMA benchmark criteria and in regard to their applicability. Results: They displayed a wide range of views (44,969 to 5,448,717), likes (66 to 155,079) and dislikes (6 to 2339). The videos were assessed using Global Quality Score, DISCERN Score and JAMA benchmark criteria and in regard to their applicability. Neither the number of “Views”, “Likes”, nor “Dislikes” was found to have a significant association with any of the quality measures used in this study. Conclusion : Overall quality grade was determined as “moderate”. Based on the data examined in this study, the use of YouTube videos as a source of therapy advice for lumbar spine disc herniation cannot be recommended universally.

Keywords: herniated disc; lumbar region; spine; physical therapy modalities; instructional film and video (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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