Osteoarthritis is a prevalent cause of disability in the United States, impacting a substantial number of individuals. Exercise stands as a prominent option for managing this condition; however, barriers such as a lack of professional guidance and low self-efficacy hinder many patients from engaging in physical activity. While physical therapist-directed exercise is an evidence-based treatment, the completion of home exercise, a critical component of physical therapy, remains low. The proliferation of technology products, particularly mobile applications, has emerged as a significant tool for managing chronic diseases and has the potential to support exercise completion for individuals living with osteoarthritis. Nevertheless, there remains a lack of understanding regarding the preferences and obstacles related to the use of mobile apps by physical therapists and those aging with osteoarthritis. Hence, the primary objective of this study was to examine the perspectives of patients and physical therapy providers on the utilization of mobile apps to support prescribed home exercise for osteoarthritis management.
To conduct this investigation, a qualitative study was undertaken involving 18 physical therapists and 17 patients who participated in focus groups and completed questionnaires. The patient cohort consisted of individuals aged 50 years and older who had previously undergone physical therapy for osteoarthritis. The physical therapists, in turn, possessed a minimum of one year of clinical experience working with individuals afflicted by osteoarthritis. The focus of the study was to scrutinize the practicality, functionality, and design of the features available within exercise prescription apps.
The findings of the study brought to light four primary themes: accountability through reminders and trackers, data-driven approaches, enhanced communication, and the multifaceted nature of technology. Both patients and physical therapists demonstrated a keen interest in the features of mobile apps, such as daily reminders to complete exercises, exercise completion tracking, and data sharing related to exercise completion and the ease or difficulty of exercises.
The discussions surrounding the study disclose that mobile apps are equipped with features that have the potential to augment traditional exercise prescription by bolstering accountability, facilitating communication, and furnishing data-driven feedback. Both patients and physical therapists acknowledged the potential value of integrating mobile apps into exercise prescription; nonetheless, concerns were raised regarding time constraints, reimbursement, and technological challenges.
In conclusion, the study asserts that while the use of mobile apps for exercise prescription may not be suitable for all patients or clinical scenarios, there exists a desire among patients for greater technological integration in their physical therapy treatment, a sentiment which therapists may not be fully cognizant of or willing to consider. Subsequent research is imperative to illustrate how the incorporation of mobile apps into physical therapy treatment impacts patient outcomes. In general, mobile app technology offers the potential to bolster exercise completion for individuals living with osteoarthritis; however, obstacles to universal adoption persist.
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