The effectiveness of feedback in exercise therapy on patient-related treatment outcome and patient satisfaction: a randomized controlled trial in inpatient orthopedic rehabilitation in Germany
21 August 2025
Schuber, A. A., & Schaller, A. (2025). The effectiveness of feedback in exercise therapy on patient-related treatment outcome and patient satisfaction: a randomized controlled trial in inpatient orthopedic rehabilitation in Germany. Disability and rehabilitation, 1–16. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2025.2533437
Abstract:
Purpose: Therapist feedback regarding the patient's performance, behavior or personal development constitutes an effective interventional technique in the context of psychotherapy. Due to the extensive patient-therapist interaction during exercise therapy in medical rehabilitation, this study evaluated the effects of multidimensional exercise therapy feedback on the patient-related treatment outcome and satisfaction with rehabilitation.
Materials and methods: The study was conducted as a two-armed, mono-center, randomized controlled trial with three measuring points: start of three-week inpatient rehabilitation (T0), end of three-week inpatient rehabilitation (T1), 12-week follow-up (T2), and included patients with chronic neck, shoulder and/or lumbar spine disorders. The intervention group received multidimensional exercise therapy feedback during the initial and final physical therapist examination as well as short therapist feedbacks during group-based exercise therapy. The control group received usual care.
Results: 109 (69%) participants completed the study. Although patients and exercise therapists regarded the intervention as conducive for patient-therapist interaction, no significant differences were found at T1 or T2 between the intervention and control group in terms of average pain intensity, impairment or satisfaction with rehabilitation.
Conclusion: While multidimensional exercise therapy feedback is appreciated by patients, it does not improve patient-related outcomes in the context of medical rehabilitation.
Trial registration: This trial was registered with the German Clinical Trial Register (DRKS) (https://www.drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00027263/details) under the registration number DRKS00027263 (Date of registration: 25/Mar/2022).
