JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Musculoskeletal (MSK) physiotherapy provides conservative management for a range of conditions. Currently, there is a lack of engagement with exercise programmes due to a lack of supervision and low self-efficacy. The use of mHealth interventions could be a possible solution to this problem, helping to promote self-management in the home. However, there is little evidence within MSK physiotherapy on the most effective forms of mHealth.

Objective:

The aim of this review was to investigate the literature focusing on the use of mHealth within MSK physiotherapy and summarise the evidence

Methods:

A scoping review of six peer-reviewed databases was conducted. No date limits were applied, but only articles in the English language were selected. One reviewer screened all articles, followed by two additional researchers screening a random sample prior to data extraction.

Results:

28 studies (n = 1393) were identified. Intervention characteristics consisted of stretching and strengthening exercises, primarily for degenerative joint pain and spinal conditions. The most reported use of mHealth included telephone and/or videoconferencing calls to provide a home exercise programme or used as an adjunct to a physiotherapy MSK assessment. While patient satisfaction with mHealth was reported as high, reasons for disengagement included a lack of high-quality information and poor Internet speeds. Barriers to clinical uptake included insufficient training with the intervention and lack of time to become familiar.

Conclusions:

MHealth has some benefits regarding treatment adherence and can potentially be as effective as normal physiotherapy care while being more cost effective. Current use is most effective when ongoing feedback from a healthcare professional is available. Clinical Trial: The protocol for this Scoping Review was registered on the Open Science Framework (DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/2YWPZ).