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Effectiveness of an AI-based home exercise app for rehabilitation of rotator cuff-related shoulder pain: A randomized
Olga Villar-Alises1, Celia Cónstenla Cortés2, Manuel Rodríguez-Piñero Durán2
1Departamento de Fisioterapia, Facultad de Enfermería, Fisioterapia y Podología, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain; CTS 1110: Understanding Movement and Self in Health from Science (UMSS) Research Group, Andalusia, Spain; Healthinn, Seville, Spain.
Background:
Rotator cuff-related shoulder pain contributes to disability and healthcare use. Although therapeutic exercise is first-line treatment, limited supervision and adherence may reduce its effectiveness; digital rehabilitation with real-time feedback may address these limitations.
Objectives:
To evaluate the effectiveness of adding a digital rehabilitation program to standard physiotherapy on pain, function, fear-avoidance beliefs, and healthcare utilization.
Design:
Single-center, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial with two parallel groups.
Method:
Forty-six adults (mean age 59 years) with rotator cuff-related shoulder pain were randomized to 12 weeks of conventional physiotherapy or physiotherapy plus an AI-based digital rehabilitation program using computer vision for real-time feedback and performance monitoring. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and at 2, 4, and 12 weeks. Pain intensity (NPRS) was primary outcome; secondary outcomes included upper limb function (QuickDASH), fear-avoidance beliefs (FABQ), and post-intervention healthcare utilization. Analyses followed an intention-to-treat approach.
Results:
Pain reduction exceeded the MCID (1.3) at 4 and 12 weeks. Between-group differences favoured the intervention at Weeks 2 and 4 (MD -0.7; 95% CI -1.13 to -0.14 and MD -1.01; 95% CI -1.8 to -0.2, respectively). Upper limb function improved more at Week 4 (MD -7.3; 95% CI -12.3 to -2.2). FABQ scores decreased more at Week 12 (MD -7.6; 95% CI -14 to -0.5). Fewer participants in the experimental group required post-intervention healthcare (3 vs 10; p = 0.02).
Conclusion:
Adding AI-based home exercise app to conventional treatment improve pain and may improve function and reduce healthcare utilization in rotator cuff-related shoulder pain.
