Background
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative bone and joint disease that significantly impacts patients' quality of life and mental health, while also imposing a substantial economic burden on society. However, access to rehabilitation for patients with OA is challenging upon hospital discharge. Digital exercise therapy represents a promising telemedicine strategy for enhancing the management of OA, but its effect on OA is not yet clear.
Objective
This study aimed to systematically evaluate the therapeutic effects of digital exercise therapy on pain and physical function in patients with OA.
Methods
Databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus were searched for randomized controlled trials on using digital exercise therapy for OA until October 25, 2023. The primary outcomes included the measures of pain scores or physical function scores immediately after the intervention and at full follow-up. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale. Relevant data were extracted, and a meta-analysis was performed using RevMan5.3 software (Cochrane Collaboration).
Results
A total of 9 studies with 1604 patients were included in the final meta-analysis. Compared with the conventional treatment group, digital exercise therapy significantly reduced numerical rating scale pain scores (mean difference [MD]=-1.07, 95% CI -1.35 to -0.78; P<.001) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index physical function scores (MD=-2.39, 95% CI -3.68 to -1.10; P<.001) in patients with OA immediately after the intervention. However, follow-up results revealed no statistically significant difference in numerical rating scale pain scores (MD=-0.20, 95% CI -0.59 to 0.20; P=.34), while Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index physical function scores showed a significant improvement in the digital exercise therapy group compared with the control group (MD=-1.89, 95% CI -3.52 to -0.26; P=.02). These findings suggest that digital exercise therapy provides immediate benefits for both pain and physical function in patients with OA, with sustained improvements in physical function observed during follow-up, though pain relief may not persist long term.
Conclusions
Digital exercise therapy can alleviate the pain and improve the physical function in patients with OA and can be used as an auxiliary means in the rehabilitation treatment of OA. It provides great convenience for patients with OA who need long-term treatment, allowing them to exercise at home for rehabilitation training.
Trial Registration
PROSPERO CRD42023484819; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42023484819.