ABSTRACT
Background Knee osteoarthritis is one of the main causes of disability and mobility impairment in the elderly population. This is associated with suffering and high medical costs. Non-surgical therapy such as exercise therapy, physical activity interventions and self-management support can reduce pain and improve function and health-related quality of life. Home exercise programs are considered an important component of therapy, but adherence is often insufficient. Digital health applications are a promising option, especially under the conditions of the current COVID-19 pandemic to reduce this barrier. Objective To investigate the feasibility of implementing a mHealth home exercise program for patients with knee osteoarthritis in terms of usability, user experience, user behaviour and outcome. Method Patients with knee osteoarthritis carried out the mHealth home exercise program (mhexos) for 4 weeks. The program was implemented via tablet computer with a total of 39 exercise videos on strengthening, balance and coordination, which could be configured in 3 difficulty levels. Data on pain intensity and self-perceived exertion were recorded via the app. Guided interviews were conducted and questionnaires were used to assess usability and user experience as well as health-related outcomes at 2 measurement points. Results 10 patients and 7 therapists were included. The mHealth home exercise programme could be implemented in the practice and the everyday life of the subjects. The app was predominantly rated as user-friendly and motivating, adherence to therapy was high with an exercise frequency of 2.7 times per week (SD 0.6). The health-related outcomes showed small, statistically non-significant and clinically not relevant changes following the intervention. Conclusion The mhexos seems to be suitable to support home exercise programs for knee osteoarthritis under given conditions. Controlled studies are needed to assess its effectiveness.