The Effect of Using Smart Phone Application for Enhancing Adherence to Home Exercise

The Effect of Using Smart Phone Application for Enhancing Adherence to Home Exercise Program Among Older Adults With Knee Osteoarthritis in Saudi Arabia

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a serious condition and requires good adherence to interventions such as exercises to achieve optimal management. The use of smart phone technologies could be such a strategy to enhance adherence to the home exercise program (HEP) thus improve pain, physical function and lower limb strength. The study aimed to examine the effect of using an innovative smart phone app on enhancing the adherence to home exercise programs among female older adults with knee OA in Saudi Arabia and the effectiveness of this HEP which delivered through an app, on pain and physical function. Methodology: 40 females aged 50 years or older with knee OA (20 per study arm) recruited to a randomized control trial that uses a parallel study design. All participants assessed and received an education and a set of a home exercise program for knee OA, Participants randomized into the App arm (experimental group) received their HEP in the smart phone application. Participants randomized to the other arm (control group) received HEP in a paper hand-out. After enrolment, the study outcomes were assessed at week three and week six. The primary outcomes were self-reported adherence, ANPRS, and Ar-WOMAC.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female older adults aged 50 and above.
• Diagnosed with unilateral or bilateral chronic knee OA (diagnosed ≥ six months).
• Mild to moderate pain intensity (score ≤ 7 on the Arabic Numeric Pain Rating Scale).
• Ambulate independently.
• Literate, familiar to use smart mobile phone or tablet.
• No previous exercising within the last six months.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Comorbidities that affect their health and wellness (neurological conditions, unstable cardiopulmonary conditions, mental disorders with score < 24 on Mini-Mental State Examination)
• Waiting for surgical intervention.
• Recent trauma (fall/ accident).