Digital Intervention Group
fear-avoidance behaviors, pain
The digital intervention consisted of a home exercise program, patient education, and CBT (Patient education was delivered through a smartphone app in the form of short written articles addressing anatomy, physiology, pain reconceptualization, active coping skills, exercise, and fear-avoidance behaviors [Participants and the physical therapist were able to communicate through a built-in secure chat within a smartphone app for text messages and video or phone calls conducted on-demand (which was also conducted to motivate patients and increase adherence).Technical and IT support was provided to patients through several communication channels. When hardware issues could not be resolved remotely, the device was replaced.Schematic representation of the intervention for each group: the digital group (left side) and the control group (right side). CBT: cognitive behavioral therapy.