One-Year Long-Term Study on Digital Osteoarthritis Treatment Shows Significant Symptom Relief

A recently published clinical long-term study reveals that digital osteoarthritis treatment reduced patient pain by half and improved physical function by 43%.

“We expected patients to improve, but the extent of their progress surprised us. The simplicity of continuing training over a long period via the app is likely a key factor behind these remarkable results.” – Håkan Nero, researcher and physical therapist from Lund University.

Study Results

The study included 499 patients aged 56-68, the majority of whom were women, diagnosed with knee or hip osteoarthritis. These patients followed the program for six months, with 138 individuals continuing for a full year. The digital treatment involved daily exercises requiring only five to ten minutes per session. Additionally, patients reported their pain levels weekly and tested their physical function every two weeks.

After six months, patients who used the app an average of five out of seven days per week experienced a 45% reduction in pain and a 43% improvement in physical function. These changes significantly enhanced their quality of life, with many considering their symptoms manageable.

Lasting Improvements Over 12 Months

Notably, the improvements remained consistent after 12 months, with no significant differences between patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis, between genders, or across different age groups.

“Traditionally, hip osteoarthritis has been more challenging to treat than knee osteoarthritis.” – Håkan Nero

Håkan Nero also highlights that in traditional three-month studies, exercises are typically performed only a few times per week. Digital treatment, on the other hand, allows for high adherence and consistent training over extended periods due to daily reminders and the flexibility to complete exercises anytime, anywhere.

Results like these could have a profound impact on the health of millions of people with osteoarthritis worldwide as awareness of digital treatment options continues to grow.

Read the full study here

Conflict of Interest Disclosure

Osteoarthritis treatment via an app is provided by Joint Academy. The research and scientific article on this treatment were conducted by researchers at Lund University. Håkan Nero and Stefan Lohmander are part-time consultants for Joint Academy, and Leif Dahlberg serves as the Chief Medical Officer.