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

• Main Authors: Stephan Heisinger, Dominikus Huber, Michael Paul Matzner, Timothy Hasenoehrl, Stefano Palma, Julia Sternik, Carmen Trost, Michael Treiber, Richard Crevenna, Josef Georg Grohs
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: herniated disc; lumbar region; spine; physical therapy modalities; instructional film and video
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/11/5815
• ISSN: 1661-7827; 1660-4601

<i>Background:</i> 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. <i>Aim:</i> The main aim of this study was to assess the quality of online physiotherapy exercise tutorials for lumbar disc herniation. <i>Materials & Methods:</i> 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. <i>Results:</i> 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. <i>Conclusion</i>: 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.