Clinician-curated ChatGPT-4o– and DeepSeek-R1–assisted exercise programmes added to standard physiotherapy for subacromial pain syndrome: a triple-masked randomized controlled trial

@article{gurses2026cliniciancurated,
  title = {{Clinician-curated ChatGPT-4o– and DeepSeek-R1–assisted exercise programmes added to standard physiotherapy for subacromial pain syndrome: a triple-masked randomized controlled trial}},
  author = {Ömer Alperen Gürses and Selin Özmut and Elife Ceyda Okumuş and İremsu Bayat and Sümeyye Erol and Tuğba Tekeş and Cemrenur Ercan and Anıl Özüdoğru and Şafak Kuzu and Nazife Kapan Tunçer and Muhammed İhsan Kodak and Caner Karartı and İsmail Ceylan and Ömer Faruk Özçelep and İsmail Özsoy},
  journal = {Scientific Reports},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-73179-2},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-73179-2},
  note = {CC BY},
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Clinician-curated ChatGPT-4o– and DeepSeek-R1–assisted exercise programmes added to standard physiotherapy for subacromial pain syndrome: a triple-masked randomized controlled trial
AU  - Ömer Alperen Gürses
AU  - Selin Özmut
AU  - Elife Ceyda Okumuş
AU  - İremsu Bayat
AU  - Sümeyye Erol
AU  - Tuğba Tekeş
AU  - Cemrenur Ercan
AU  - Anıl Özüdoğru
AU  - Şafak Kuzu
AU  - Nazife Kapan Tunçer
AU  - Muhammed İhsan Kodak
AU  - Caner Karartı
AU  - İsmail Ceylan
AU  - Ömer Faruk Özçelep
AU  - İsmail Özsoy
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/01
JO  - Scientific Reports
DO  - 10.1038/s41598-026-73179-2
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-73179-2
AB  - Large language models may assist clinicians in developing exercise programmes and could offer an alternative approach to conventional physiotherapist-designed rehabilitation in musculoskeletal disorders such as subacromial pain syndrome. The aim of this triple-masked randomized controlled trial was to compare clinician-curated ChatGPT-4o– and DeepSeek-R1–assisted exercise programmes with a conventional physiotherapist-designed exercise programme in individuals with subacromial pain syndrome. This 3-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted in the outpatient physical medicine and rehabilitation clinic of a university-affiliated hospital. Adults aged 18 to 65 years with subacromial pain syndrome were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive conventional, clinician-curated ChatGPT-4o–assisted, or clinician-curated DeepSeek-R1–assisted exercise programming. All groups received identical physical therapy modalities and supervised exercise sessions 3 times per week for 6 weeks. The primary outcome was the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index. Secondary outcomes included pain during activity, Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand, and the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey. Between-group comparisons were based on change scores from baseline to week 6. Seventy-five participants were enrolled, and 69 completed the 6-week follow-up. Shoulder Pain and Disability Index scores improved in all groups, with no significant between-group difference over 6 weeks (P = 0.428). No significant between-group differences were found for key secondary outcomes after Holm adjustment, including pain during activity (P = 0.744), Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (P = 0.744), and physical component summary scores (P = 0.374). Resting pain differed significantly between groups (P = 0.005), favouring DeepSeek-R1 over conventional programming (mean difference, 2.74 [95% CI, 1.26 to 4.22]). No adverse events were reported. Clinician-curated ChatGPT-4o– and DeepSeek-R1–assisted exercise programmes did not produce superior 6-week improvements in shoulder pain-related disability or key functional outcomes compared with conventional programming in subacromial pain syndrome; these findings should not be interpreted as establishing equivalence. The observed resting-pain difference in favour of DeepSeek-R1 was exploratory and requires confirmation. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT07148687) First Posted 3 August 2025.
SN  - 2045-2322
ER  -