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ORIGINAL PAPER
The effect of a physiotherapy intervention on disability decrease and on the perceived health-related quality of life in patients with musculoskeletal disorders
1
Hellenic Open University, Athens, Greece
2
Department of Psychology, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens, Greece
3
Independent researcher, social worker-psychologist, Megalopolis, Greece
Submission date: 2020-02-17
Acceptance date: 2020-04-15
Publication date: 2021-06-21
Physiother Quart. 2021;29(2):23-31
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
To evaluate the effect of a physiotherapy intervention on disability decrease and the perceived health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with musculoskeletal disorders.
Methods:
The interventional study involved 150 patients of a public hospital and 3 private physiotherapy clinics in Greece. The study lasted 5 months (December 2016–April 2017). A composite questionnaire was used, including sociodemographic/medical data, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and EQ-5D-3L. The main intervention consisted in 10 physiotherapy sessions including transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, short-wave diathermy, high-frequency ultrasound, hand massage, and strengthening/stretching exercises. Questionnaires were completed before the first session and then after the tenth session. Analysis was performed with SPSS v. 21.0.
Results:
Half of the participants (50%) were treated in a state hospital, while the rest (50%) in a private clinic. The patients had problems in their spine and neck in the same percentage (44.7%). There was a significant decrease (mean: 19.33, SD: 13.71) in ODI score after the intervention. The decrease differed significantly depending on age, marital status, and problem location (spine, neck, chest). A significant improvement in EQ-5D-3L and visual analogue scale scores was recorded after treatment (p = 0.001). The EQ-5D-3L score change differed significantly depending on age, marital status, educational level, problem location, and previous physiotherapy treatment. There was a significant positive correlation between changes in EQ-5D-3L and ODI (r = 0.48, p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
The physiotherapy intervention was beneficial for patients with musculoskeletal disorders and improved their perceived HRQoL. Several demographic and medical characteristics affected the improvement.
To evaluate the effect of a physiotherapy intervention on disability decrease and the perceived health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with musculoskeletal disorders.
Methods:
The interventional study involved 150 patients of a public hospital and 3 private physiotherapy clinics in Greece. The study lasted 5 months (December 2016–April 2017). A composite questionnaire was used, including sociodemographic/medical data, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and EQ-5D-3L. The main intervention consisted in 10 physiotherapy sessions including transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, short-wave diathermy, high-frequency ultrasound, hand massage, and strengthening/stretching exercises. Questionnaires were completed before the first session and then after the tenth session. Analysis was performed with SPSS v. 21.0.
Results:
Half of the participants (50%) were treated in a state hospital, while the rest (50%) in a private clinic. The patients had problems in their spine and neck in the same percentage (44.7%). There was a significant decrease (mean: 19.33, SD: 13.71) in ODI score after the intervention. The decrease differed significantly depending on age, marital status, and problem location (spine, neck, chest). A significant improvement in EQ-5D-3L and visual analogue scale scores was recorded after treatment (p = 0.001). The EQ-5D-3L score change differed significantly depending on age, marital status, educational level, problem location, and previous physiotherapy treatment. There was a significant positive correlation between changes in EQ-5D-3L and ODI (r = 0.48, p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
The physiotherapy intervention was beneficial for patients with musculoskeletal disorders and improved their perceived HRQoL. Several demographic and medical characteristics affected the improvement.
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