Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42367698›Full record

ArticleTherapeutic advances in musculoskeletal disease2026

Association of an app-based intervention with improvements in mobility, trunk muscle strength and patient-reported disease activity in axial spondyloarthritis: a 24-week pre-post study.

Patrick-Pascal Strunz, Marc Schmalzing, Amelie Wüst, Patricia Possler, Tobias Heusinger, Maxime le Maire, Anna Fleischer, Thorsten Bley, Michael Gernert, Hannah Labinsky and 9 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Therapeutic advances in musculoskeletal disease, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

19 authors.

Patrick-Pascal StrunzDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Rheumatology/Clinical Immunology, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Oberduerrbacher Str. 6, Würzburg 97080, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3168-7074
Marc SchmalzingDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Rheumatology/Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Amelie WüstMedical Faculty, University of Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Patricia PosslerMedical Faculty, University of Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Tobias HeusingerMedical Faculty, University of Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Maxime le MaireMedical Faculty, University of Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Anna FleischerDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Thorsten BleyDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Michael GernertDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Rheumatology/Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0074-4459
Hannah LabinskyDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Rheumatology/Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Ottar GadeholtDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Rheumatology/Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Robert LeppichDepartment of Computer Science, University of Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Astrid SchmiederDepartment of Dermatology, Venereology, and Allergology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Ludwig HammelDeutsche Vereinigung Morbus Bechterew e.V., Schweinfurt, Germany.
Billy SperlichIntegrative and Experimental Exercise Science and Training, Institute for Sports Science, University of Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Ann-Cathrin KoschkerDepartment of Internal Medicine I, Endocrinology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Hermann EinseleDepartment of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Matthias FroehlichDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Rheumatology/Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Karsten Sebastian LuetkensDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: In a nationwide randomised controlled trial among 200 axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) patients, the medical app Axia improved patient-reported disease activity scores, functional status and quality of life. Objective: This companion study aimed to explore Axia's effects on objective parameters such as mobility, strength and imaging. Design: Single-centre, two-phase pre-post intervention study over 24 weeks. Methods: Thirty-two patients with axSpA on stable pharmacotherapy underwent 12 weeks of standard care (phase I) followed by 12 weeks of Axia use (phase II). The primary endpoint was Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) at week 24 (W24) versus week 12 (W12) and baseline. Secondary endpoints included muscle strength, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), safety and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the sacroiliac joints. Results: Twenty-seven (84%) of 32 participants (mean age 49.1 years, 48.1% females and radiographic axSpA, 66.7% biological or targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs therapy) completed the study. During standard care, BASMI (baseline 3.1; W12 3.0; Conclusion: Axia use was associated with improved spinal mobility, extensor strength and disease activity, without relevant safety concerns. Trial registration: The study was registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00038067).

Indexed as

ankylosing spondylitisdigitalisationdigital therapyexercise therapynonpharmacological therapyphysical therapy

Identifiers

PMID42367698
PMCPMC13309642

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.