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AI-Generated Exercise Videos vs Traditional Leaflets: A Novel Approach to Home Exercise Education in Achilles
Nuri Koray Ülgen1, Ali Said Nazlıgül1, Nihat Yiğit1
1University of Health Sciences, Sincan Training and Research Hospital, Orthopaedics and Traumatology Clinic, Ankara, Turkiye.
Background:
This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated, personalized video-based exercise instructions with traditional paper-based leaflets in improving exercise adherence and accuracy among patients with Achilles tendinitis and plantar fasciitis, and to evaluate whether this approach can serve as a practical tool for home exercise education that enables physicians and physiotherapists to easily create customized exercise programs without the need for advanced technical expertise or external resources.
Methods:
159 patients diagnosed with Achilles tendinitis or plantar fasciitis were randomized into 2 groups, with 103 completing the study in the paper exercise group (n = 47) and video exercise group (n = 56). The video group received exercise instructions created using the Google Veo 3 AI platform, whereas the paper group received standard AAOS/OrthoInfo leaflets. Exercise adherence was assessed using the Exercise Adherence Rating Scale (EARS), and exercise accuracy was evaluated through a 3-stage scoring system for 4 specific foot stretching exercises.
Results:
There was no significant difference between the groups in overall exercise adherence rates (71% vs 73%, P = .276). The mean EARS scores were 18.4 ± 3.1 for the paper group and 18.9 ± 3.4 for the video group (P = .412). However, the video group demonstrated significantly higher accuracy in complex exercises, particularly the Towel Curls (2.82 ± 0.27 vs 2.23 ± 0.31, P < .001). Subgroup analysis revealed that educational level affected adherence in the paper group (P = .012), whereas no such difference was observed in the video group (P = .624).
Conclusion:
AI-generated video instructions demonstrate comparable effectiveness to traditional printed leaflets in supporting short-term exercise adherence and may enhance exercise accuracy, particularly for complex, multistep movements. This low-cost approach may enable health care professionals to readily create personalized exercise programs without copyright concerns or the need for advanced technical skills - offering a practical and scalable adjunct to conventional home exercise education.
Level Of Evidence:
Level II, randomized controlled trial.
