Effect of smartphone application-supported self-rehabilitation for frozen shoulder: a prospective randomized control study

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of smartphone-assisted self-rehabilitation in patients with frozen shoulder. DESIGN:: A single-center, randomized controlled trial. SETTING:: Orthopedic department of a university hospital. SUBJECTS:: A total of 84 patients with frozen shoulder were recruited. INTERVENTION:: Patients were randomly divided into two groups: a smartphone-assisted exercise group ( n = 42) and a conventional self-exercise group ( n = 42). The study was performed over three months, during which each group performed home-based rehabilitation. MAIN MEASURES:: Visual analogue scale for pain and passive shoulder range of motion were assessed at baseline and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of treatment. Technology Acceptance Model-2 and Usefulness, Satisfaction, and Ease of Use scores were evaluated in the smartphone group. RESULTS:: Initial visual analogue scale for pain of the smartphone group was 6.0 ± 2.2 and ended up with 1.8 ± 2.5 after 12 weeks, whereas the self-exercise group showed 5.8 ± 2.3 for the baseline visual analogue scale for pain and 2.2 ± 1.7 at the end. Significant time-dependent improvements in all measured values were observed in both groups (all Ps < 0.001), but no significant intergroup difference was observed after 4, 8, or 12 weeks of treatment. In the smartphone group, Technology Acceptance Model-2 and Usefulness, Satisfaction, and Ease of Use scores showed high patient satisfaction with smartphone-assisted exercise. CONCLUSION:: There was no difference between home-based exercise using a smartphone application and a conventional self-exercise program for the treatment of frozen shoulder in terms of visual analogue scale for pain and range of motions.