Physiotherapists’ Perception of Patient Compliance to Home Exercises in Chronic Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy
Physiotherapists’ Perception of Patient Compliance to Home Exercises
Keywords:
Rehabilitation, Chronic Musculoskeletal Conditions, Home Based ExerciseAbstract
Background: Disorders of the musculoskeletal system are common, are responsible for a considerable amount of disability, impairment, and handicap, and are associated with high economic costs. Rehabilitation of chronic musculoskeletal conditions necessitates long-term home-based exercise programs. Exercises have been shown to alleviate pain, improve joint mobility and stability, allow faster return to work and prevent progression of chronic conditions. Non-adherence of patients to unsupervised long-term exercise is a major problem that affects treatment outcome. This study explores Indian physiotherapists’ perception of exercise adherence and their interventions to tackle it in clinical practice. Methods: A convenience sample of fifteen experienced physiotherapists from Saurashtra region of Gujarat was interviewed. Interviews were recorded and analysed. Results: The identified themes revolved around issues of patient-therapist collaboration in chronic rehabilitation. The subordinate themes were: negotiating ownership and self management, education and pain, patient attitudes and communication. Conclusion: Experienced physiotherapists recognised barriers and often critically viewed their practice. They undertook necessary interventions in their practice but persisting non-adherence made them question the patient’s role in the partnership.
References
3. Hayden JA., Van Tulder MW., Malmivaara A and Koes BW (2005) Exercise therapy for treatment non-specific low back pain (review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 3; 1-70.
4. Marwaha K, Horobin H and McLean SM (2010) Indian physiotherapists‟ perceptions of factors that influence the adherence of Indian patients to physiotherapy treatment recommendations. International Journal of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, 1(1); 9-18.
5. Middleton A (2004) Chronic low back pain: patient compliance with physiotherapy advice and exercise, perceived barriers and motivation. Physical Therapy Reviews, 9; 153-160.
6. Slujis EM, Kok GJ. and Van der Zee J (1993) Correlated of exercise compliance in physical therapy. Physical Therapy, 73; 771-786.
7. Alexandre NM et al (2002) Predictors of compliance with short-term treatment among patients with back pain. Pan American Journal of Public Health, 12(2); 86-94.
8. Medina-Mirapeix F, Escolar-Reina P, Gascon-Canovas JJ, Montilla-Herrador J and Collins SM (2009) Personal characteristics influencing patients' adherence to home exercise during chronic pain: A qualitative study. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 41(5); 347-352.
9. Campbell R et al. (2001) Why don't patients do their exercises? Understanding non-compliance with physiotherapy in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 55(2); 132-138.
10. Rushmer R and Pallis G (2003) Inter-professional working: The wisdom of integrated working and the disaster of blurred boundaries. Public Money and Management, 2359-66.
11. Jack K et al (2010) Barriers to treatment adherence in physiotherapy outpatient clinics: A systematic review. Manual Therapy, 15(3); 220-228.
