Mobile app to support home exercises during physical therapy for muscle or joint pain
Examining the Feasibility and Effectiveness of an mHealth Solution Designed to Enhance Clinical Outcomes Among Patients Attending Physical Therapy for Musculoskeletal Pain
['FUNDING_R21'] · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · NIH-11143817
This project uses a phone app to help people in physical therapy for muscle or joint pain follow their home exercise program and track their progress.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R21'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11143817 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you join, your physical therapist will assign home exercises through a mobile app that sends reminders, collects short patient-reported surveys, and logs your exercise activity. The team will look at how often people use the app, how well they complete prescribed exercises, and changes in pain and function during the course of physical therapy. Data will come from the app (adherence logs and surveys) and clinical records from participating outpatient PT clinics. The study focuses on whether the app is practical to use in routine PT care and whether using it is linked to better recovery.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults receiving outpatient physical therapy for musculoskeletal (muscle, joint, or spine) pain who have a smartphone and are prescribed a home exercise program would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without a smartphone, those not prescribed home exercises, or patients whose pain requires immediate surgical or urgent medical care may not benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the app could help patients get more benefit from physical therapy, reduce pain and disability, and potentially lower the need for surgery or opioid use.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work shows that digital tools can improve exercise adherence and some rehab outcomes, but using Remote Therapeutic Monitoring integrated into routine PT care is relatively new and still being tested.
Where this research is happening
BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES
- JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY — BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: MCLAUGHLIN, KEVIN — JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: MCLAUGHLIN, KEVIN
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.