Effects of exercise-assisting mobile application (Osteoarthritis-Rehabilitation Assistant: O-RA) on rehabilitation outcomes in the elderly: a randomized controlled parallel clinical trial. (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Either a mobile application or biofeedback using motion analysis has been applied to increase compliance with exercise programs. We have developed a mobile application, Osteoarthritis-Rehabilitation Assistant (O-RA), which utilises motion analysis technology in the mobile application for assisting the elderly in performing a knee exercise program. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of O-RA application on the compliance and correctness of the exercise program in the elderly METHODS We conducted an assessor-blind, parallel design, randomized controlled trial in 40 elderly individuals (aged 60 years or more) who had no symptoms and no diagnosis of knee OA. Participants were divided into 2 groups: the O-RA application (intervention) group and the standard treatment (control) group. Both groups were taught four types of exercise programs by a physical therapist for 15 minutes and were instructed to do exercises at home every day for one week. The number of exercises and percentage between observed and prescribed exercises, the correctness of exercises, and overall pain during the program were assessed in both groups. RESULTS The control group had significantly higher compliance with the exercise program than the intervention group (p<0.05, independent t-test). There was no statistically significant difference in the correctness of the exercise program between the intervention and the control group. The difficulty of use and satisfaction were 47 and 59 out of the full score of 100, respectively. The main problems were the instability and the difficulty in using the application. CONCLUSIONS In the elderly who had no symptoms and a diagnosis of knee, the O-RA application was not a facilitator, but even a barrier to the lower extremity exercise program in the elderly who had no OA knee symptoms or diagnosis. An updated version, aiming to increase the stability and make it more user-friendly, should be developed to increase its usability. CLINICALTRIAL TCTR20240923002