Does outpatient physical therapy with the aim of improving health-related physical fitness influence the level of physical activity in patients with long-term musculoskeletal conditions?

I Holm; A T Tveter; T Moseng; H Dagfinrud

doi:10.1016/j.physio.2014.11.005

Does outpatient physical therapy with the aim of improving health-related physical fitness influence the level of physical activity in patients with long-term musculoskeletal conditions?

Physiotherapy. 2015 Sep;101(3):273-8. doi: 10.1016/j.physio.2014.11.005. Epub 2014 Dec 23.

Authors

I Holm¹, A T Tveter², T Moseng³, H Dagfinrud⁴

Affiliations

¹ Division of Surgery and Clinical Neuroscience, Orthopaedic Department, Section of Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Institute of Health and Society, Medical Faculty, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1089, Blindern, NO-0318 Oslo, Norway.
² Institute of Health and Society, Medical Faculty, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1089, Blindern, NO-0318 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: a.t.tveter@medisin.uio.no.
³ Institute of Health and Society, Medical Faculty, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1089, Blindern, NO-0318 Oslo, Norway.
⁴ Institute of Health and Society, Medical Faculty, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1089, Blindern, NO-0318 Oslo, Norway; National Resource Center for Rehabilitation in Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmets Hospital, P.O. Box 23, Vinderen, NO-0319 Oslo, Norway.

PMID: 25769188
DOI: 10.1016/j.physio.2014.11.005

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate any change in self-reported level of physical activity in patients receiving a general physical exercise programme in addition to disease-specific physiotherapy treatment.

Design: Pre-post-intervention study.

Setting: Outpatient physiotherapy clinics.

Participants: One hundred and ninety patients with long-term musculoskeletal conditions attending outpatient physiotherapy were recruited from seven physiotherapy clinics.

Interventions: Physiotherapy including disease-specific modalities and a general individually tailored exercise programme. Patients were evaluated at baseline and at the end of the programme.

Main outcome measures: International Physical Activity Questionnaire short form (IPAQ-sf) and COOP WONCA functional assessment charts.

Results: Forty-two patients were excluded from the analysis because they did not complete the IPAQ-sf correctly or dropped out during the treatment period. There was a significant increase in the number of metabolic equivalent task (MET)-min/week for vigorous and moderate-intensity activities, walking and total physical activity. The number of exercise sessions per week increased from 1.8 [standard deviation (SD) 0.9] to 2.2 (SD 1.2) (P=0.001). The proportion of patients with a low level of physical activity decreased by 12%, and the proportion of the participants who did not/could not exercise decreased from 26% to 8%. The COOP WONCA charts showed significant improvements in the physical fitness, feelings, daily activities and social activities items.

Conclusion: A significant increase was found in the number of MET-min/week for all activity levels. Therefore, a general physical exercise programme initiated by a physiotherapist led to a positive change in level of physical activity.

Keywords: Exercise; IPAQ; Musculoskeletal diseases; Physical activity level; Physical therapists.

Publication types

Clinical Trial
Multicenter Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Activities of Daily Living
Adult
Aged
Body Mass Index
Chronic Disease
Exercise Therapy / methods*
Female
Health Status*
Humans
Male
Metabolic Equivalent
Middle Aged
Musculoskeletal Diseases / rehabilitation*
Physical Fitness*
Quality of Life
Self Report
Walking