Physical activity and exercise for chronic pain in adults: an overview of Cochrane Reviews

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2017 · DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD011279.pub2 · Published: January 1, 2017

Simple Explanation

This review looked at the effects of physical activity and exercise on chronic pain in adults. It analysed 21 Cochrane Reviews covering conditions like arthritis, back pain, and period pain. The review found that while physical activity may reduce pain and improve function, the evidence is of low quality, and more research is needed.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

37,143 participants

Evidence Level

Overview of Cochrane Reviews

Key Findings

1
Several reviews noted favourable results from exercise on pain severity, but the results were inconsistent across interventions and follow-up periods.
2
Physical function was significantly improved as a result of the intervention in 14 reviews, though even these statistically significant results had only small-to-moderate effect sizes.
3
Psychological function and quality of life had variable results, with some reviews reporting favorable effects and others showing no difference between groups.

Research Summary

This overview of Cochrane Reviews examined the effectiveness and safety of physical activity and exercise for chronic pain in adults. The review included 21 Cochrane Reviews encompassing various chronic pain conditions and exercise interventions. The authors concluded that the quality of evidence is low, but physical activity and exercise may improve pain severity and physical function with few adverse events.

Practical Implications

Clinical Practice

Clinicians should consider physical activity and exercise interventions for patients with chronic pain, but be aware of the low quality and inconsistent evidence.

Policy Making

Policy makers should recognize physical activity as an acceptable intervention for chronic pain, but further research is needed to guide specific program content.

Future Research

Future research should focus on increasing participant numbers, including a broader spectrum of pain severity, and lengthening both the intervention itself and the follow-up period.

Study Limitations

1
Low quality of evidence due to small sample sizes and underpowered studies.
2
Inconsistent results across interventions and follow-up periods.
3
Lack of data on healthcare use/attendance and adherence to prescribed interventions.

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