Frozen shoulder rehabilitation app shows limited preliminary benefits in an 18-patient pilot
Published in Artificial Intelligence, Journals, Tools.
Published October 31, 2026.
A small randomized pilot trial tested an AI-based rehabilitation application for frozen shoulder. Published October 27 in npj Digital Medicine, the study compared ANAPA ME with YouTube-based home exercises in 18 patients at one center.
Both groups received a single ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection into the shoulder joint and completed a 12-week exercise program. Outcome assessors were blinded to treatment allocation.
At 12 weeks, the application group showed greater improvement in passive external rotation with the arm at the side. The researchers also reported favorable health-related quality-of-life findings.
However, pain scores, the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index and the Constant Shoulder Score did not differ significantly between groups. The findings therefore do not establish a broad advantage across symptoms and function.
With only 18 participants, the trial provides preliminary evidence that needs confirmation in larger studies. Its results concern the combined injection-and-exercise setting, rather than an application used alone.
OrthoCare funded the study, several authors list company affiliations, and related patent applications are disclosed.
Source: Yoon, E.-J., Lee, Y.K., Kim, J.-H. et al., npj Digital Medicine, October 27, 2026. Read the original study.