Combined Use of Digital and Analog Physical Therapy in Patients With Musculoskeletal Disorders and Indicators of Chronicity: German Claims Data Analysis

Musculoskeletal disorders are highly prevalent worldwide and contribute significantly to the overall burden of disease. Regular physical therapy with trained physiotherapists is recommended in the guidelines. Recently, digital physical therapy offered by digital health interventions was shown to be...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:JMIR mHealth and uHealth Vol. 13; p. e63935
Main Authors: Frey, Silke, Schmitz, Annika, Schneider, Udo, Kerkemeyer, Linda, Weltermann, Birgitta
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Canada JMIR Publications 09.06.2025
Subjects:
Adjustment
Adult
Aged
Back pain
Chronic Disease - therapy
Cohort Studies
Data analysis
Data integrity
Exercise
Feedback
Female
Germany
Humans
Insurance Claim Review - statistics & numerical data
Internet for Rehabilitation
Knee
Male
Medical equipment
mHealth for Rehabilitation
mHealth in a Clinical Setting
Middle Aged
Musculoskeletal diseases
Musculoskeletal Diseases - psychology
Musculoskeletal Diseases - therapy
Original Paper
Patients
Physical fitness
Physical therapy
Physical Therapy Modalities - instrumentation
Physical Therapy Modalities - standards
Physical Therapy Modalities - statistics & numerical data
Prescribable Digital Interventions (Digital Therapeutics)
Retrospective Studies
Systematic review
Technology in Physiotherapy
Use and User Demographics of mHealth
Web-based and Mobile Health Interventions
Germany
chronicity
exercise therapy
digital health applications
mHealth
musculoskeletal disorders
physical therapy
utilization
claims analysis
digital health interventions
DiGA
ISSN:2291-5222, 2291-5222
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Summary:Musculoskeletal disorders are highly prevalent worldwide and contribute significantly to the overall burden of disease. Regular physical therapy with trained physiotherapists is recommended in the guidelines. Recently, digital physical therapy offered by digital health interventions was shown to be effective. However, the evidence on its real-world usage in health care systems is limited. Based on claims data, this study examined the current usage of digital health applications (DiGAs) for musculoskeletal disorders in the German health care system. Patients with standalone digital physical therapy were compared to those with a combination of analog and digital physical therapy. In addition, predictors for concomitant use were identified. This retrospective cohort study analyzed claims data from Germany's largest statutory health insurance. Patients who used DiGA for musculoskeletal disorders at least once were included. Sociodemographic and medical characteristics of patients receiving standalone and concomitant physical therapy were compared. Statistical analyses comprised univariate analyses and binomial logistic regression. Of the 6090 individuals, 58.2% (3543/6090) were prescribed physical therapy within 6 months before or after DiGA prescription. In this population, 36.3% (2210/6090) used DiGA and analog physical therapy at the same time. Concomitant physical therapy was significantly more likely in patients with chronicity risk (odds ratio [OR] 1.49, 95% CI 1.31-1.69; P<.001) or established chronicity (OR 2.76, 95% CI 2.22-3.47; P<.001), female gender (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.33-1.66; P<.001), and higher age (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.02-1.02; P<.001). The findings highlight the diverse utilization patterns of DiGAs among patients with musculoskeletal disorders. Chronicity emerged as an important predictor for combined digital and analog physical therapy. These findings support considerations on integrating digital health interventions into current guidelines.
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None declared.
ISSN:2291-5222
2291-5222
DOI:10.2196/63935