Personalized physical activity promotion in osteoarthritis patients using smartphone-based solution

Project Details

Description

Worldwide, musculoskeletal disorders are the leading cause of years lived with a disability. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of musculoskeletal disorder. The main problem for people with osteoarthritis is the pain that limits their functional capacities. Indeed, pain and its fear induce a dramatic decrease in physical activity, which is gradual and thus, not well self-perceived. This decrease in physical activity is partially responsible for some long-term consequences such as a loss of autonomy, impaired muscle function, higher mortality rate due to cardiovascular disease and other non-communicable diseases. There is strong evidence that physical activity and exercise are safe and highly beneficial for these patients experiencing repetitive and demotivating pain episodes. Patients with osteoarthritis may benefit from simply replacing some sedentary time with any type of physical activity. Unfortunately, there is no specific physical activity promotion program for people with osteoarthritis in Luxembourg. As more than 94% of people own a smartphone in Luxembourg, a digital solution may help to overcome the usual diffusion barrier and reach a large majority of the target population with a physical activity intervention. Indeed, a digital solution should allow to target this specific vulnerable population, placing physical activity in the context of disease prevention, slowing progression, chronic condition management and personalized goal setting.
The purpose of PIANISSIMO is to test the feasibility of an app-based intervention to increase physical activity levels and monitor pain in patients with osteoarthritis in Luxembourg.
For this purpose, the primary objective of this project will be to monitor the adherence to the application. Secondary objectives will be to study the physical activity trajectory in response to the physical activity intervention, as well as to prospectively investigate the bi-directional relationship between the dimensions of daily-life physical activity and pain in real-world settings in patients with osteoarthritis. On an exploratory basis, we aim to measure the change of behavior in absence of intervention after the end of the 6-month intervention (i.e. long-term adherence).
AcronymPIANISSIMO
StatusActive
Effective start/end date1/10/2330/09/25

Funding

  • Oeuvre nationale de secours Grande Duchesse Charlotte: €254,719.06

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