The worldwide population is progressively aging. According to a 2018 report published by the Government of Canada, approximately 1 in 3 people in Canada, 65 years and older report suffering from musculoskeletal pain.
goal
Musculoskeletal disorders are the most common cause of disability in older adults. Musculoskeletal pain is experienced in muscles, joints, tendons and other body parts. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of combined, evidence-based interventions, also known as multimodal interventions. These include active exercise rehabilitation for elderly patients living with persistent musculoskeletal pain.
methodology
A literature search was conducted up to February 2019 in five databases of research articles. The studies included were the ones that compared a multimodal intervention including active rehabilitation and in combination with at least one other medical, educational or psychosocial intervention, compared with the usual medical care or no medical care at all.
main findings
The findings from 16 studies show that multimodal interventions were statistically more effective than standard medical care in reducing pain and disability in older adults in the short and long term. The differences found were consistent with small to moderate clinical changes.
take home message
The multimodal approach including active rehabilitation with exercises seems to have positive results on pain and disability in the elderly patients with persistent musculoskeletal pain. This therapeutic option is adapted to help these patients improve their functional abilities and thus preserve their independence. The benefits of these interventions on the quality of life, psycho-social functions and health care resources utilization needs to be further investigated.
