The Role of Physical Exercise in Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: Best Medicine—A Narrative Review
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Published:2024-01-18
Issue:2
Volume:12
Page:242
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ISSN:2227-9032
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Container-title:Healthcare
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language:en
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Short-container-title:Healthcare
Author:
De la Corte-Rodriguez Hortensia12ORCID, Roman-Belmonte Juan M.34ORCID, Resino-Luis Cristina3ORCID, Madrid-Gonzalez Jorge1, Rodriguez-Merchan Emerito Carlos56ORCID
Affiliation:
1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, La Paz University Hospital, 28046 Madrid, Spain 2. IdiPAZ Institute for Health Research, 28046 Madrid, Spain 3. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Cruz Roja San José y Santa Adela University Hospital, 28003 Madrid, Spain 4. Medical School, Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio (UAX), 28691 Madrid, Spain 5. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, La Paz University Hospital, 28046 Madrid, Spain 6. Osteoarticular Surgery Research, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research—IdiPAZ (La Paz University Hospital—Autonomous University of Madrid), 28046 Madrid, Spain
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to provide a narrative review of the effects of physical exercise in the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain. Physical inactivity and sedentary behavior are associated with chronic musculoskeletal pain and can aggravate it. For the management of musculoskeletal pain, physical exercise is an effective, cheap, and safe therapeutic option, given that it does not produce the adverse effects of pharmacological treatments or invasive techniques. In addition to its analgesic capacity, physical exercise has an effect on other pain-related areas, such as sleep quality, activities of daily living, quality of life, physical function, and emotion. In general, even during periods of acute pain, maintaining a minimum level of physical activity can be beneficial. Programs that combine several of the various exercise modalities (aerobic, strengthening, flexibility, and balance), known as multicomponent exercise, can be more effective and better adapted to clinical conditions. For chronic pain, the greatest benefits typically occur with programs performed at light-to-moderate intensity and at a frequency of two to three times per week for at least 4 weeks. Exercise programs should be tailored to the specific needs of each patient based on clinical guidelines and World Health Organization recommendations. Given that adherence to physical exercise is a major problem, it is important to empower patients and facilitate lifestyle change. There is strong evidence of the analgesic effect of physical exercise in multiple pathologies, such as in osteoarthritis, chronic low back pain, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia.
Subject
Health Information Management,Health Informatics,Health Policy,Leadership and Management
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