ASSESSMENT OF A REAL-TIME AI MOTION COACH FOR CORRECTING SCAPULAR DYSKINESIS IN OVERHEAD ATHLETES WITH SHOULDER PAIN.

Background: Scapular dyskinesis is a common contributor to shoulder pain in overhead athletes, often resulting in impaired biomechanics and functional limitations. Conventional physiotherapy relies on therapist-guided correction, which may lack consistency and real-time precision. Emerging artificial intelligence (AI)-based motion analysis systems offer the potential to enhance rehabilitation through immediate feedback and movement optimization. Objective: To determine whether AI-driven real-time motion feedback improves movement patterns and reduces pain more effectively than standard physiotherapy in overhead athletes with shoulder pain. Methods: A parallel-group randomized controlled trial was conducted in the Islamabad–Rawalpindi region over five months. Sixty overhead athletes aged 18–35 years with clinically diagnosed scapular dyskinesis were randomized into an intervention group (AI-assisted physiotherapy) or control group (standard physiotherapy). The intervention was delivered over six weeks, with three sessions per week. Primary outcomes included pain intensity (Visual Analog Scale) and functional disability (Shoulder Pain and Disability Index). Secondary outcomes comprised scapular kinematics, shoulder range of motion, and muscle strength. Data were analyzed using paired and independent t-tests, and repeated measures ANOVA. Results: Fifty-five participants completed the study (intervention n=27; control n=28). The intervention group demonstrated significantly greater reductions in pain (mean difference: -1.3; 95% CI: -1.8 to -0.8; p<0.001) and disability (mean difference: -11.2; 95% CI: -15.0 to -7.4; p<0.001) compared to the control group. Significant time × group interactions were observed for both VAS (F=18.72, p<0.001) and SPADI (F=22.45, p<0.001). Improvements in scapular kinematics, range of motion, and muscle strength were also significantly greater in the intervention group. Conclusion: AI-assisted physiotherapy provided superior clinical and functional outcomes compared to standard care, suggesting its value as an adjunct in the rehabilitation of scapular dyskinesis among overhead athletes. Keywords: Athletic Injuries; Biomechanical Phenomena; Physical Therapy Modalities; Rehabilitation; Scapula; Shoulder Pain; Technology