Muthukrishnan P

Year : 2025 | Volume : 10 | Issue : 2 | Page : 42-61

Physiotherapy-Led Early Intervention Models Across the Lifespan: Neuroplastic, Functional, and Cost-Effectiveness Outcomes of In- Person and Tele-Physiotherapy in Pre-Frailty and Early Neurological Conditions

Muthukrishnan P

Department of Physiotherapy, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research (MAHER), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Dr.Raja Durai

Department of Clinical Research, MAHER, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Address for correspondence:

Muthukrishnan P et al

Department of Physiotherapy,

Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research (MAHER), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Physiotherapy-led early intervention with task-oriented neuroplastic training was evaluated in a mixed-methods RCT of 340 older adults and acute ischemic stroke patients, comparing in-person therapy, synchronous telerehabilitation, and standard care. Over 16 weeks, both intervention arms achieved comparable functional gains (FIM +21.3 in-person vs +19.8 telerehab), significant frailty reversal (~50%), improved gait speed, and increased BDNF levels. Telerehabilitation demonstrated superior cost-effectiveness (£4,127/QALY vs £7,429/QALY) and higher adherence, particularly in rural populations. Benefits were sustained to 24 months, supporting telerehabilitation as an accessible, scalable, and economically efficient alternative to in-person care.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

How to cite this Article: Muthukrishnan P et al., Physiotherapy-Led Early Intervention Models Across the Lifespan: Neuroplastic, Functional, and Cost-Effectiveness Outcomes of In- Person and Tele-Physiotherapy in Pre-Frailty and Early Neurological Conditions. Int J Soc Rehab 2025; 10(2): 42-61. doi: 10.56501/intjsocrehab.v10i2.ijsr0045