Effectiveness and therapeutic compliance of digital therapy in shoulder rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial.
Alex Rizzato, Martina Pizzichemi, Erica Gobbi and 5 others
PMID 37420268WHAT IT FOUND
Digital shoulder therapy was no more effective than standard care for pain or strength.
However, patients using the digital ball showed a link between enjoying the exercises and wanting to continue training at home, which did not appear in the standard group.
Key findings
01There was no significant difference between the digital and standard groups for pain, strength, or range of motion.
02In the digital group only, increased enjoyment of therapy correlated with increased confidence and intention to exercise at home.
03Both groups improved in self-efficacy and attitude toward home exercise, but the digital tool did not produce a statistically significant gain in usability or engagement scores over the standard tool.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample size was very small (22 participants), which limits the generalizability of the findings. The study only measured immediate effects after ten sessions, so it does not show whether the digital therapy leads to better long-term adherence or outcomes. Treatment fidelity was not objectively measured, meaning it is unclear if the exercises were performed exactly as intended in every session.
Declared interests
The authors declared no competing interests. The study was supported by non-U.S. government sources.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that digital therapy is superior for physical recovery. The study found no significant difference in pain or strength gains between the digital and standard groups, so any functional improvements are likely due to the rehabilitation itself rather than the specific technology.