JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative bone and joint disease that significantly impacts patients' quality of life and mental health, while also imposing a substantial economic burden on society. However, access to rehabilitation for OA patients is challenging upon hospital discharge. Web-based exercise therapy represents a promising telemedicine strategy for enhancing the management of OA, but the effect of web-based exercise therapy on OA is not clear.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the therapeutic effects of web-based exercise therapy on pain and physical function in OA patients.

Methods:

Databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus databases were searched for randomized controlled trials on web-based exercise therapy in OA until October 25,2023. The primary outcomes included the measures of pain scores and physical function scores immediately after the intervention, and full follow-up, and the risk of bias was evaluated using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. Relevant data were extracted, and a meta-analysis was performed using RevMan5.3 software.

Results:

Nine articles with 2191 patients were included in the final meta-analysis. Compared with the conventional treatment group, web-based exercise therapy significantly reduced the NRS pain scores (MD = -1.08; 95% CI: -1.37 to -0.79; P < 0.001) and WOMAC physical function scores (MD = -1.63; 95% CI: -2.81 to -0.46; P = 0.007) in OA patients immediately after the intervention. However, the follow-up results revealed no statistically significant difference in NRS pain scores (MD = -0.29, 95% CI: -0.68 to 0.11, P = 0.15) and WOMAC physical function scores between the web-based exercise therapy and conventional treatment groups (MD = -0.74, 95% CI: -2.26 to 0.79, P = 0.35). These findings suggest that while web-based exercise therapy showed immediate benefits for OA patients, these benefits were not sustained in the long term.

Conclusions:

Web-based exercise therapy can alleviate the pain and improve the physical function of patients with OA and can be used as an auxiliary means in the rehabilitation treatment of arthritis. It provides great convenience for OA patients who need long-term treatment, allowing them to exercise at home for rehabilitation training.