To characterize existing literature examining the use of mHealth applications specifically for physical therapy in adults with chronic pain eligible for physical therapy.
Key Findings:
42 studies met eligibility criteria, with an average participant age of 51.8 years.
85.7% of studies did not report on participants’ race/ethnicity status.
mHealth interventions included standalone apps, wearables, and web-based content, primarily delivering exercise and/or education.
Most studies examined outcomes immediately or up to 3 months post-intervention, focusing on pain reduction, functional activity, and quality of life.
64.2% of studies were classified as early-stage investigations.
Interpretation:
The review identified significant knowledge gaps, including the need for better characterization of study populations and evaluation of mHealth's impact on older populations, which could guide future research directions.
Limitations:
Lack of reporting on race/ethnicity status in the majority of studies, which may limit generalizability.
Heterogeneity of interventions and study designs may have influenced results, complicating comparisons.
Conclusion:
The findings highlight the necessity for future research to address existing gaps in understanding the effectiveness of mHealth applications in physical therapy for chronic pain management.
Older patients with documented cognitive impairment also experienced greater postoperative functional decline following elective total knee arthroplasty
