Cited by 33Shoulder Injury and TreatmentMusculoskeletal pain and rehabilitationMobile Health and mHealth Applications

Asynchronous and Tailored Digital Rehabilitation of Chronic Shoulder Pain: A Prospective Longitudinal Cohort Study

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Janela, Dora, Costa, Fabíola, Molinos, Maria, Moulder, Robert G, Lains, Jorge, Francisco, Gerard E, Bento, Virgílio, Cohen, Steven P +1 more·2022·Journal of Pain Research

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Chronic shoulder pain (SP) is responsible for significant morbidity, decreased quality of life and impaired work ability, resulting in high socioeconomic burden. Successful SP management is dependent on adherence and compliance with effective evidence-based interventions. Digital solutions may improve accessibility to such treatments, increasing convenience, while reducing healthcare-related costs. PURPOSE: Present the results of a fully remote digital care program (DCP) for chronic SP. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Interventional, single-arm, cohort study of individuals with chronic SP applying for a digital care program. Primary outcome was the mean change between baseline and 12 weeks on the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire. Secondary outcomes were change in pain (NPRS), analgesic consumption, intention to undergo surgery, anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9), fear-avoidance beliefs (FABQ-PA), work productivity (WPAI) and engagement. RESULTS: From 296 patients at program start, 234 (79.1%) completed the intervention. Changes in QuickDASH between baseline and end-of-program were both statistically (p < 0.001) and clinically significant, with a mean reduction of 51.6% (mean -13.45 points, 95% CI: 11.99; 14.92). Marked reductions were also observed in all secondary outcomes: 54.8% in NPRS, 44.1% ceased analgesics consumption, 55.5% in surgery intent, 37.7% in FABQ-PA, 50.3% in anxiety, 63.6% in depression and 66.5% in WPAI overall. Higher engagement was associated with higher improvements in disability. Mean patient satisfaction score was 8.7/10.0 (SD 1.6). CONCLUSION: This is the first real-world cohort study reporting the results of a multimodal remote digital approach for chronic SP rehabilitation. High completion and engagement rates were observed, which were associated with clinically significant improvement in all health-related outcomes, as well as marked productivity recovery. These promising results support the potential of digital modalities to address the global burden of chronic musculoskeletal pain.

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  • The authors have previously demonstrated the utility of a completely remote digital care program integrating exercise, education, and cognitive behavioral therapy in several MSK conditions, including for upper limb.

    “Previously, we have demonstrated the utility of a completely remote digital care program (DCP) integrating exercise, education, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in several MSK conditions [42,43,44,45], including for upper limb [46,47,48].”

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. [66]Preacher KJ, Wichman AL, MacCallum RC, Briggs NE. Latent Growth Curve Modeling. SAGE publications, Inc; 2008.
  2. [67]Kenneth AB, Curran PJ. Latent Curve Models: A Structural Equation Perspective. Wiley Series; 2006.
  3. [69]Brown TA. Confirmatory Factor Analysis for Applied Research. 2 ed. The Guilford Press; 2006.

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Authors
Janela, D., Costa, F., Molinos, M., Moulder, R. G., Lains, J., Francisco, G. E., Bento, V., Cohen, S. P., & Correia, F. D.
Affiliations
  • University of Colorado Boulder (US)
  • Memorial Hermann Institute for Rehabilitation and Research Foundation (US)
  • Johns Hopkins University (US)
Corresponding author
Correia, Fernando Dias
Venue
Journal of Pain Research
Published
2022-01
Volume
Volume 15
Pages
53-66
ISSN
1178-7090 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4206346329
Cited by
33
References
96
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 9
FWCI
6.21
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Pain Research (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • CU Scholar (University of Colorado Boulder) (submittedVersion)
  • Dove Medical Press (Taylor and Francis Group) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Estudo Geral (Universidad de Coimbra) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Shoulder Injury and Treatment
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
Keywords
chronic shoulder pain, digital rehabilitation, remote care, telemedicine, patient engagement, analgesic use, fear-avoidance beliefs, labor productivity, depression, anxiety, musculoskeletal pain, patient satisfaction

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