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?. Issue 3 (September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Holm, I.; Tveter, A.T.; Moseng, T.; Dagfinrud, H.
• Is Part Of: Physiotherapy. Volume 101:Issue 3(2015)
• Page Start: 273
• Page End: 278
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Subjects: Physical therapy -- Periodicals; Therapeutics, Physiological -- Periodicals; 615.8205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physio.2014.11.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0031-9406

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="author" id="abs0005"> <title id="sect0005">Abstract</title> <sec> <title id="sect0010">Objective</title> <p id="spar0005">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.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0015">Design</title> <p id="spar0010">Pre–post-intervention study.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0020">Setting</title> <p id="spar0015">Outpatient physiotherapy clinics.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0025">Participants</title> <p id="spar0020">One hundred and ninety patients with long-term musculoskeletal conditions attending outpatient physiotherapy were recruited from seven physiotherapy clinics.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0030">Interventions</title> <p id="spar0025">Physiotherapy including disease-specific modalities and a general individually tailored exercise programme. Patients were evaluated at baseline and at the end of the programme.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0035">Main outcome measures</title> <p id="spar0030">International Physical Activity Questionnaire short form (IPAQ-sf) and COOP WONCA functional assessment charts.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0040">Results</title> <p id="spar0035">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) (<italic>P</italic> = 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.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0045">Conclusion</title> <p id="spar0040">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.</p> </sec> </abstract>