A systematic review of the application of deep learning techniques in the physiotherapeutic therapy of musculoskeletal pathologies

Abstract

Physiotherapy is a critical area of healthcare that involves the assessment and treatment of physical disabilities and injuries. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in physiotherapy has gained significant attention due to its potential to enhance the accuracy and effectiveness of clinical decision-making and treatment outcomes. Nevertheless, it is still a rather innovative field of application of these techniques and there is a need to find what aspects are highly developed and what possible job niches can be exploited. This systematic review aims to evaluate the current state of research on the use of a particular AI called deep learning models in physiotherapy and identify the key trends, challenges, and opportunities in this field. The findings of this review, conducted following the PRISMA guidelines, provide valuable insights for researchers and clinicians. The most relevant databases included were PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Astrophysics Data System, and Central Citation Export. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were established to determine which items would be considered for further review. These criteria were used to screen the items during the first and second peer review processes. A set of quality criteria was developed to select the papers obtained after the second screening. Finally, of the 214 initial papers, 23 studies were selected. From our analysis of the selected articles, we can draw the following conclusions: Concerning deep learning models, innovation is primarily seen in the adoption of hybrid models, with convolutional models being extensively utilized. In terms of data, it's unsurprising that body signals and images are predominantly used. However, texts and structured data present promising avenues for groundbreaking work in the field. Additionally, medical tests that involve the collection of 3D images, Functional Movement Screening, or thermographies emerge as novel areas to explore applications within the scope of physiotherapy.

Keywords: Deep learning; Musculoskeletal pathologies; Physiotherapy; Systematic review.