Telehealth-Supported Exercise or Physical Activity Programs for Knee Osteoarthritis: Systematic Review and...

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Digital Health
• Osteoarthritis Management

Background:

• Telehealth integration in chronic disease management is growing.
• Effectiveness of telehealth for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) management requires clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of telehealth-supported exercise or physical activity programs for individuals with KOA.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across multiple databases up to September 2023.
• Included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing telehealth interventions to control groups for KOA.
• Data were synthesized qualitatively, with a meta-analysis performed following PRISMA 2020 guidelines.

Main Results:

• Meta-analysis of 20 studies revealed telehealth programs significantly reduced pain (g=-0.39) and improved physical function (g=-0.51) and physical activity (g=0.13).
• Significant improvements were noted in quality of life (g=0.25), pain self-efficacy (g=0.72), and global improvement (OR=2.69).
• Subgroup analyses indicated significant differences based on digital health classification and control group type for pain and physical function outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Telehealth-supported programs show potential for reducing knee pain and enhancing physical activity, function, quality of life, and self-efficacy in individuals with KOA.
• Future research should explore longer intervention durations and the integration of wearables for large-scale studies.