AI-Enabled Telerehabilitation for Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain: Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

In 30 seconds

This multicenter, prospective, parallel-group randomized noninferiority trial compared AI-enabled home telerehabilitation with exercise-matched outpatient rehabilitation in people with chronic nonspecific neck pain lasting at least 3 months. Both groups followed a 24-week strengthening and stretching program. At week 24, the between-group difference in Neck Disability Index (telerehabilitation minus outpatient) was -2.5 points (95% CI -6.2 to 1.2); the confidence interval met the prespecified noninferiority criterion. Pain, health-related quality of life, and cervical range of motion improved comparably, and no intervention-related harms were reported.

Key findings

• At week 24, the NDI difference was -2.5 points (95% CI -6.2 to 1.2), meeting the prespecified noninferiority margin of 10 percentage points.
• Both groups had clinically meaningful reductions in neck-related disability, with comparable improvements in pain, EQ-5D, and cervical range of motion.
• No intervention-related harms occurred.

Why it matters

The findings suggest that sensor-guided home exercise with remote feedback can achieve disability outcomes comparable to face-to-face rehabilitation over 24 weeks in this trial population. This may be relevant where travel or access makes regular outpatient sessions difficult, while the comparable secondary outcomes provide context beyond disability alone.

What to keep in mind

The reported follow-up was limited to 24 weeks, so longer-term comparative outcomes are not established.