DOES PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS HAVE EFFECT ON PAIN IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING PHYSICAL THERAPY? A SURVEY STUDY

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of current physical activity levels on pain in patients included in a physical therapy program for various musculoskeletal diseases. The data were collected from 250 patients aged 35 to 65 years who were included in a physical therapy program, and diagnosed as cervical or lumbar spondylosis, lumbar or cervical herniated nucleus pulposus, carpal tunnel syndrome and gonarthrosis, Pain was assessed with visual analog scale (VAS) and physical activity was measured with a Physical Activity Assessment Questionnaire (PAAQ) and categorized based on metabolic equivalent value minutes per week (MET, min/weeks). Our results showed that physical activity levels were low in the majority of the cases and it was found that physical activity levels had no effect on pain. Male patients consumed more energy at workplace while female patients spent more energy in the household. It was found that gonarthrosis, obesity, being retirement or a housewife, and advanced age had negative effect on physical activity levels. Patients’ physical activity levels must be increased without arising pain and weight control should be implemented

Keywords

• Osteoarthritis, physical activity, pain, physical therapy

References

1. Ainsworth BE, Haskell WL, Whitt MC. (2000). Compendium of physical activities: an update of activity codes and MET intensities. Med Sci Sports Exerc 32, 498–504.
2. Bek N. (2008). Physical Activity and Our Health. Physical Activity Information Series. Publication No. 730. Coordinator: Baltacı G; Editors: Irmak H, Kesici C, Cakır B, Akıncı N, Beşer Z. Ankara: Ministry of Health.
3. Beyazova M, Kutsal YG. (2000). Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Ankara: Gunes Publications pp. 1820–1.
4. Clarke KK, Freeland-Graves J, Klohe-Lehman DM, et al. (2007). Promotion of physical activity in low-income mothers using pedometers. J Am Diet Assoc 107,962-7.
5. Eck LH, Hackett-Renner C, Klesges LM. (1992). Impact of diabetic status, dietary intake, physical activity, and smoking status on body mass index in NHANES II. Am J Clin Nutr 56:329–33.
6. Heesch CK, Miller YD, Brown WJ. (2007). Relationship between physical activity and stiff or painful joints in mid-aged women and older women: a 3-year prospective study. Arthritis Res Ther 9:R(34).
7. Hootman JM, Macera CA, Ham SA, et al. (2003). Physical activity levels among the general US adult population and in adults with and without arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 49:129–35.
8. Jamtvedt G, Dahm KT, Christie A, et al. (2008). Physical therapy interventions for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: an overview of systematic reviews. Phys Ther 88, 123–36.

9. Karaca A, Ergen E, Koruç Z. (2000). The realibility and validity of Physical Acitvity Assessement Questionnaire. Hacettepe J. Sport Sci 11(1-2-3-4), 17–28.
10. Kolt GS, Driver RP, Giles LC. (2004). Why older Australians participate in exercise and sport. J Aging Phys Act 12, 185–98.
11. Loland NW.(2004). Exercise, health and aging. J Aging Phys Act 12, 170–84.
12. Oguz H, Dursun E, Dursun N. (2004). Medical Rehabilitation. Ankara: Nobel Medicine Publications pp. 1053–4
13. Parmaksiz H. (2007). Governing levels of physical activities in obese adults. Thesis, İzmir.
14. Pisters MF, Veenhof C, Schellevis FG, et al.(2010). Long-term effectiveness of exercise therapy in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee: a randomized controlled trial comparing two different physical therapy interventions. Osteoarthr Cartilage 18, 1019–26.
15. Rejeski WJ, Brawley LR. (2006). Functional health: innovations in research on physical activity with older adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc 38, 93–9.
16. Soyuer F, Soyuer A. (2008). Ageing and physical activity. Journal of Inonu University Medical Faculty 15, 219–24.
17. Telama R, Yang X, Viikari J, et al. (2005). Physical activity from childhood to adulthood: a 21- year tracking study. Am J Prev Med 28, 267–73.
18. Tucker P, Irwin JD, Gilliland J, et al. (2009). Environmental influences on physical activity levels in youth. Health Place 15, 357–63.
19. Zakkak JM, Wilson DB, Lanier JO. (2009). The association between body mass index and arthritis among US adults: CDC’s surveillance case definition. Prev Chronic Dis 6:A56.