PURPOSE: To examine the effects of an Arabic smartphone application on adherence to home exercise programs (HEPs) and the effectiveness of mobile-based HEPs on pain, physical function, and lower-limb muscle strength among older women with knee osteoarthritis (OA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomised control trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04159883) enrolled 40 women aged >= 50 years with knee OA who were randomised into the app group (experimental; n = 20) receiving HEPs using an Arabic smartphone application called "My Dear Knee", whereas the paper group (control; n = 20) receiving HEPs as hand-outs. Both groups had the same exercise program. Outcome measures were self-reported adherence, changes in the Arabic Numeric Pain Rating Scale, the Arabic version of the reduced Western Ontario, McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index-Physical Function subscale, and Five-Times Sit-To-Stand Test scores. All participants were assessed at baseline, at week 3 and week 6. Using completer-only analyses, the repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare the means of the outcome measures between the two groups. RESULTS: At the end of week 6, the app group reported greater adherence to HEPs (p = 0.002) and significant reduction in pain (p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: A smartphone application with motivational and attractive features could enhance adherence to HEPs in this patient cohort.

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