Gamified delivery of at-home rehabilitation for individuals with nonspecific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

To measure the change in pain and disability during and after a 6-week gamified delivery of home exercise compared to a take-home packet. A 6-week at-home exercise protocol included participants randomly allocated to a gamified delivery group or packet group. The exercise protocol included the plank, side plank, foot elevated side plank, dead bug, and bird dog completed until discontinuation. The gamified delivery group received on-demand exercise videos and weekly exercise duration leaderboards. The packet group received a take-home packet. Forty participants were randomized into a packet group and leaderboard group, and 30 participants completed the study. Disability was significantly lower at 6-weeks (11.29 ± 9.81%) compared to baseline (15.93 ± 11.65%) in the packet group (χ²(2) =10.89, Z= -3.163, <i>p</i>=.002, <i>r</i>=.708). Percent disability was significantly lower at 6-weeks (8.00 ± 5.91%) compared to baseline (13.01 ± 7.17%) in the gamified delivery group (χ²(2) =13.235, Z= -3.399, <i>p</i>= <.001, r= -0.760). Worst pain was higher at baseline (7.05 ± 1.61%) than at 6-weeks (5.75 ± 1.68%) in the packet group (χ²(2) =8.067, Z = 2.760, <i>p=</i>.006, r= -0.617). Worst pain was higher at baseline (6.90 ± 1.33%) than at 6-weeks (5.24 ± 2.38%) in the gamified delivery group (χ²(2) =6.250, Z= -2.810, <i>p=</i>.005, r= -0.628). No significant difference in the change of disability from baseline to 6 weeks was found between groups (<i>p=</i>.483). Core exercises completed until failure may improve disability and pain at 6-weeks and positively influence perceived patient improvement.Registry: Clinicaltrials.gov; Registration number: NCT05573932.