Management of Musculoskeletal Disorders through the Use of Comprehensive Exercise Therapy

Abstract

Background: A wide range of interventional strategies such as surgery, drug therapy, and non-medical interventions have been reported as management protocols among patients with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Exercise therapy (ET) usually improves the functional status of patients with MSDs and helps them to better handle their life. The present case-control study was performed to assess the impact of comprehensive ET on the management of patients with MSDs.

Methods: The present case-control study was conducted on 123 patients with MSDs between January 2014 and January of 2015. A study checklist was prepared by the researchers to gather data regarding the medical history and physical examinations of the study participants. Moreover, the demographic variables, referral reasons, resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and drug history of the participants were recorded in the checklist. A blood sample was taken after 12–14 hours of fasting to measure the fasting blood sugar, serum lipids including triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), as well as high and low density lipoproteins (HDL and LDL) of the study participants. All tests were performed at the beginning of the study and after completion of the ET protocol. The ET program comprised 24 exercise sessions scheduled over 8 weeks.

Results: Body mass index (BMI), triglycerides, and mean subcutaneous fat thicknesses of quadriceps, triceps, and the suprailiac region significantly decreased among the participants as a result of the ET protocol.

Conclusion: The ET protocol had significant impacts on clinical characteristics of patients with MSDs. The performance of multicentric studies with higher sample size is suggested for the better assessment of ET protocol. Moreover, the use of ET as a part of MSD management is recommended.