Long-Term Clinical Outcomes of a Remote Digital Musculoskeletal Program: An Ad Hoc Analysis from a Longitudinal Study with a Non-Participant Comparison Group

Abstract

Digital solutions have emerged as an alternative to conventional physiotherapy, particularly for chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) management; however, its long-term effects remain largely unexplored. This study focuses on patients reporting CMP, assessing 1-year clinical outcomes after a multimodal digital care program (DCP) versus non-participants, who enrolled in the program but never engaged in a single exercise session or partook of the educational content made available to them. In this longitudinal study ad-hoc analysis, pain and functionality outcomes at 1-year reassessment were studied, focusing on the odds of reaching minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and, overall average reduction in both outcomes. Healthcare utilization was additionally studied within the same period. From 867 individuals allocated to the study, 460 completed the 1-year reassessment (intervention group: 310; comparison group: 150). The intervention group presented sustained and greater pain reduction until 1-year reassessment than the comparison group, reflecting greater odds ratio of achieving the MCID both in pain and functionality (1.90 95% CI: 1.27–2.86, p = 0.002 and 2.02 95% CI: 1.31–3.12, p = 0.001, respectively). A lower healthcare utilization during the 1-year follow-up was observed in the intervention group than in the comparison group. This study suggests that a digital CMP program may have a lasting impact on improved pain and functionality in patients with CMP.

Pain Management in the Post-COVID Era—An Update: A Narrative Review

“…The study evaluated the impact of a completely digital program in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Results showed that participants included in the program reported significantly higher improvements in pain and function in comparison to the control group of non-starters at 1-year follow-up [ 117 ].…”

“… Improved access to care even for patients living in areas remote from the clinic through saving the resources and reducing costs at all levels by minimizing the use of PPE, transportation, and traveling [ 16 , 22 ]. It facilitates the communications with those coming from long distances, physically unfit patients with multiple comorbidities, or already-infected patients [ 22 , 117 ]. Some non-pharmacological and physical tools such as patient’s educations, psychological support, medical instructions, exercises, and posture or lifestyle changes can be easily implemented through telemedicine [ 22 , 117 ].…”

“… It facilitates the communications with those coming from long distances, physically unfit patients with multiple comorbidities, or already-infected patients [ 22 , 117 ]. Some non-pharmacological and physical tools such as patient’s educations, psychological support, medical instructions, exercises, and posture or lifestyle changes can be easily implemented through telemedicine [ 22 , 117 ]. Telemedicine can ease the workload on the already-burdened health care system and HCWs [ 16 , 116 ].…”

“…It facilitates the communications with those coming from long distances, physically unfit patients with multiple comorbidities, or already-infected patients [ 22 , 117 ].…”

“…Some non-pharmacological and physical tools such as patient’s educations, psychological support, medical instructions, exercises, and posture or lifestyle changes can be easily implemented through telemedicine [ 22 , 117 ].…”