Evaluation of Physical Therapy Interventions for Improving Musculoskeletal Pain and Quality of Life in Older Adults

Soraya Pacheco-da-Costa, Concepción Soto-Vidal, Victoria Calvo-Fuente, María José Yuste-Sánchez, Beatriz Sánchez-Sánchez and Ángel Asúnsolo-del-Barco
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Soraya Pacheco-da-Costa: Neuromusculoskeletal Physical Therapy in Stages of Life Research Group (FINEMEV), Department of Nursing and Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad de Alcalá, Autovia A2, km 33.200, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
Concepción Soto-Vidal: Neuromusculoskeletal Physical Therapy in Stages of Life Research Group (FINEMEV), Department of Nursing and Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad de Alcalá, Autovia A2, km 33.200, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
Victoria Calvo-Fuente: Neuromusculoskeletal Physical Therapy in Stages of Life Research Group (FINEMEV), Department of Nursing and Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad de Alcalá, Autovia A2, km 33.200, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
María José Yuste-Sánchez: Physiotherapy in Women’s Health Research Group (FPSM), Department of Nursing and Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad de Alcalá, Autovia A2, km 33.200, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
Beatriz Sánchez-Sánchez: Physiotherapy in Women’s Health Research Group (FPSM), Department of Nursing and Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad de Alcalá, Autovia A2, km 33.200, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
Ángel Asúnsolo-del-Barco: Public Health and Epidemiology Research Group (ISPE), Department of Surgery, Social and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad de Alcalá, Autovia A2, km 33.200, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 12, 1-13

Abstract: Background: The ageing process may lead to functional limitations, musculoskeletal pain, and worsened quality of life. The aim of this paper is to evaluate two physical therapy interventions for reducing musculoskeletal pain and improving quality of life in older adults. Methods: A cohort study was carried out with older people (60–75 years old). The Geriatric Physical Therapy group ( n = 70) received massage therapy, therapeutic exercise, and therapeutic education program for 5 weeks; the Standardized Therapeutic Exercise group ( n = 140) received a standardized therapeutic exercise and therapeutic education program for 3 weeks. Health-related quality of life (SF-36v2) and musculoskeletal pain intensity (VAS) were collected at baseline (A 0 ), post-intervention (A 1 ), and 12 weeks after baseline (A 2 ). Results: There was pain intensity reduction in both groups ( p < 0.05) and health-related quality of life improvement, except for Emotional Role ( p = 0.34); Physical Function ( p = 0.07), Bodily Pain ( p = 0.02), and General Health ( p = 0.09). At A 2 there was a difference ( p < 0.05) for neck pain in favor of the Geriatric Physical Therapy Group. Conclusions: Within the limitations of the study, it was possible to conclude that both physical therapy interventions showed a positive effect for reducing non-specific neck pain and low back pain in older adults, which may contribute to health-related quality of life improvement.

Keywords: quality of life; physical therapy; elderly; therapeutic exercise; therapeutic education program (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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