Mobile app to support home exercises during physical therapy for muscle or joint pain
Official title: Examining the Feasibility and Effectiveness of an mHealth Solution Designed to Enhance Clinical Outcomes Among Patients Attending Physical Therapy for Musculoskeletal Pain
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11143817 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $143,769 |
| NIH project number | 5R21HS030158-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11143817 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
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.
✕Less likely to help
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.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mclaughlin, Kevin — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Mclaughlin, Kevin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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mHealth tool to boost physical therapy outcomes for adults with musculoskeletal pain
A mobile health app is being tested to help adults in physical therapy stay on track with home exercises and improve pain and function.
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Combining physical therapy with mindfulness for chronic pain patients on opioids
This study is looking at how combining mindfulness practices with physical therapy can help people with chronic pain who are using long-term opioids, making it easier for them to manage their pain and reduce their reliance on medication in a friendly and supportive setting.
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Using a mobile app to improve physical therapy outcomes for musculoskeletal pain
This study is looking at how a mobile app can help people with musculoskeletal pain get more out of their physical therapy by making it easier for them to follow their exercise routines and stay connected with their therapists.
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Biopsychosocial factors in pediatric chronic musculoskeletal pain
A study at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital will look at how biological, psychological, and social factors contribute to chronic muscle and joint pain in young people to find better ways to help them.
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Improving back-pain care in rural areas with tele-physical therapy
This project tests a tele-rehabilitation program to help adults with chronic low back pain in rural communities access physical therapy and reduce opioid use.
-
Nonaddictive pain-relief prodrug gel for joint and musculoskeletal pain
A new, nonaddictive pain-relief gel uses a hydromorphone prodrug that stays at the site of pain to reduce pain without strong addiction risk.
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.