Prescription of individual therapeutic exercises via smartphone app for patients suffering from non-specific back pain

Abstract

Background The purpose of this qualitative study was the assessment of the feasibility and acceptance of orthopedists prescribing individualized therapeutic exercises via a smartphone app to patients suffering from non-specific back pain. Methods A total of 27 patients (mean age 44.8 ± 13.2 years) diagnosed with acute non-specific back pain were prescribed individually chosen therapy exercises via a smartphone app. Before the patients started and after 4 weeks of exercising all participants went through an assessment protocol consisting of questionnaires (Oswestry Disability Index [ODI], Short Form-36 [SF-36], International Physical Activity Questionnaire [IPAQ], Work Ability Index [WAI], Visual Analogue Scale [VAS] back pain, sociodemographic parameters), assessment of functional parameters (handgrip strength, timed up and go test). With 16 randomly chosen patients semi-structured interviews were undertaken at the end of the intervention period. Interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Power analysis and a priori sample size calculations were undertaken with the quantitative data. Results From the interviews four thematic categories emerged: prior exercise experience, evaluation of exercise intensity, communication with physician via smartphone app, and variability of exercise location.

A Discussion on Different Approaches for Prescribing Physical Interventions – Four Roads Lead to Rome, but Which One Should We Choose?

“…Furthermore, it is important to mention that wearable devices and smartphone applications offer great potential to tailor, prescribe, and monitor PI [ 76 , 77 ] although a stricter scientific evaluation is often needed with regard to commercially available devices/applications [ 78 , 79 , 80 ]. Notably, it has been shown that smartphone apps can positively influence exercise adherence (e.g., by providing feedback and motivation) [ 81 , 82 , 83 ], which is an important factor determining the effectiveness of a PI.…”

Health-enhancing physical activity, exercise and sports—a never-ending success story

“…In this issue, Hasenöhrl et al describe a smartphone app with individualized therapeutic exercises for patients suffering from so-called non-specific (not dangerous) back pain. The authors were able to show that the prescription of therapeutic exercises via smartphone app to patients suffering from non-specific back pain seems to be feasible and well accepted, and their pilot data additionally K Health-enhancing physical activity, exercise and sports-a never-ending success story 113 editorial pointed towards efficacy of this quite new and special intervention [3]. This could be a step into the future-additional to inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation of these patients.…”

“…Today, the importance of physical activity, exercise and sports concerning health issues cannot be overestimated [1]. For the last decades, exercise in medicine, namely prevention, therapy and rehabilitation seem to have the touch of a never-ending success story [1][2][3]. It is a pleasure for me to highlight two current Viennese approaches concerning this relevant preventive, therapeutic and rehabilitative means within this issue [2,3].…”

“…Furthermore, there are benefits concerning the risk of atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, but also concerning morbidity (prevention) and mortality in different cancer types (cancer-specific survival). Positive effects on metabolism, chronic inflammation, mental health, but also on risk of falls are only selected further benefits but of importance in all ages [1][2][3][4]. There are international and national recommendations, which should be followed by all of us [1].…”

“…Furthermore, new and easy ways to support people and patients to be physically active such as telerehabilitative apps should be developed to increase their adherence [3]. In this issue, Hasenöhrl et al describe a smartphone app with individualized therapeutic exercises for patients suffering from so-called non-specific (not dangerous) back pain.…”