Arthritis Ease Study

Purpose: This single-group pre-post intervention design, study will explore the feasibility of using a multicomponent phone-based app for 8 weeks to reduce pain, pain stress effects, decreased heart rate variability and fear of movement in 24 older adults with knee osteoarthritis and to examine sustained use and or effects at 4 weeks after intervention period. Aim 1 Evaluate the feasibility (adherence and satisfaction) of a multicomponent phone app combining virtual reality and heart rate variability biofeedback for use in older adults with knee osteoarthritis and chronic pain and gain descriptive evaluations of the experience in exit interviews. Adherence: The adherence benchmark will be 80% of participants will participate at least 5 days per week during the initial 8-week intervention period. Adherence will be examined (not benchmarked) during the 4-week follow-up period. Satisfaction: Exit interviews will demonstrate that 80% of participants practicing with the phone app rate the experience as satisfying or highly satisfying. Aim 2 Evaluate the preliminary effects of multicomponent phone app use (5 days a week for 8 weeks) in older adults with knee osteoarthritis, in relation to pain, pain stress effects, and fear of movement (kinesiophobia), and examine sustained use patterns and effects with only reminders from the app during the 4-week follow-up period. Aim 3: Examine the role of body awareness and self-regulation to moderate (predict) or mediate (strengthen) the effect of a virtual reality nature scene and heart rate variability biofeedback phone application in older adults with knee osteoarthritis.