Mobile app use to support therapeutic exercise for musculoskeletal pain conditions may help improve pain intensity and self-reported physical function: a systematic review.

J Physiother

Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine, Department of Physiotherapy, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Centre for Digital Transformation of Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address:

Published: January 2023

Question: What is the effect of therapeutic exercise or tailored physical activity programs supported by a mobile app (compared with exercise or physical activity programs delivered using other modes) for people with musculoskeletal pain conditions?

Design: Systematic review of published randomised controlled trials with meta-analysis.

Participants: People of all ages with musculoskeletal pain conditions.

Intervention: Therapeutic exercise or tailored physical activity programs supported by a mobile app.

Outcome Measures: Pain intensity, pain interference, self-reported physical function, physical performance, adherence, psychosocial outcomes, health-related quality of life, work participation, physical activity, goal attainment and satisfaction.

Results: Eleven studies were eligible for inclusion, with a total of 845 participants. There was low certainty evidence that using mobile apps to deliver exercise programs helps to reduce pain intensity to a worthwhile extent (SMD -0.60, 95% CI -0.93 to -0.27). There was low certainty evidence that using mobile apps to deliver exercise programs helps to improve self-reported physical function to a worthwhile extent (SMD -0.92, 95% CI -1.57 to -0.27). Although the effect of using mobile apps to deliver exercise programs on pain interference was also estimated to be a worthwhile benefit (SMD -0.66), this estimate came with marked uncertainty (95% CI -1.52 to 0.19) so the effect remains unclear. The remainder of the outcomes were unclear due to sparse evidence. The most common behaviour change intervention functions in the mobile app interventions were: training, enablement and environmental restructuring.

Conclusion: Mobile apps supporting therapeutic exercise or tailored physical activity programs for musculoskeletal pain conditions may help in reducing pain intensity and improving physical function. The mobile apps utilised a limited range of behaviour change intervention functions.

Registration: CRD42021248046.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jphys.2022.11.012DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

physical activity
20
mobile apps
20
therapeutic exercise
16
musculoskeletal pain
16
pain intensity
16
physical function
16
activity programs
16
mobile app
12
self-reported physical
12
exercise tailored
12

Similar Publications

Background: Central venous access devices (CVAD) are widely used in patient care, providing an essential, reliable pathway for patients to receive chemotherapy, long-term infusions, and nutritional support. However, a system of exercise management has not been developed in patients with CVAD.

Purpose: To evaluate and summarize the evidence for management exercise in patients with CVAD and provide guidance for clinical practice.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: Extraversion is a fundamental personality dimension that contributes to an individual's overall health and well-being. Many studies have examined the neural bases of extraversion but these results are inconsistent. This study adopted a meta-analysis approach to examine the brain activity correlates of extraversion by incorporating functional neuroimaging studies in the context of positive affect/emotional stimuli.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The aging population presents a significant public health challenge, particularly concerning mental health and injury prevention. Anxiety and depression are common among the older adult, affecting their quality of life and increasing the risk of unintentional injuries (UI). This study aims to explore the association between anxiety and depression and UI risk among the older adult in Guangxi, China, using data from the 2023 National Health Service Survey.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Fear extinction is the foundation of exposure therapy for anxiety and phobias. However, the stability of extinction memory diminishes over time, coinciding with fear recovery. To augment long-term extinction retention, the temporal distribution of extinction learning sessions is critical.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!