Adherence to a home physical exercise program in patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures: A retrospective observational study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Adherence to treatment is one of the most common problems in patients suffering from chronic disease such as osteoporosis, and special commitment is required to patients, especially regarding rehabilitation. There is increasing evidence that physical interventions aimed at relieving pain and reducing physical impairments could play a crucial role in improving the quality of life and reducing the risk of fractures in patients with severe osteoporosis. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the compliance and determine the acceptability of a home-self-managed exercises program in patients with vertebral fractures, one of the most frequent and serious consequences of osteoporosis. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study of patients undergoing a home exercise program, monitoring them with clinical scales, questionnaires, and routine visits. RESULTS: 62.86% of the patients were compliant with the treatment; the absence of supervision by health personnel was the primary cause of non-compliance, followed by the lack of time and the lack of motivation. Compliant patients showed a significant reduction in lumbar pain (p 0.011), an improvement in posture with a reduction of dorsal kyphosis (occipital-wall distance T0-T1, p-value = 0.02) and an improvement in QoL (p-value = 0.001) and physical performance at the 20 m walking test (p-value = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: A home exercise program is feasible and could improve signs and symptoms in patients with vertebral fractures due to OP.

Management of Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture: Review Update 2022

“…A tailored rehabilitation program based on balance and muscle strength tests has recently been proposed as an effective treatment option for basic motor function improvement and disability reduction [ 29 , 30 ]. A retrospective observational study found that compliance with a home exercise program was 62.86%, with several causes of non-compliance, including the absence of supervision by health personnel and a lack of motivation [ 31 ]. The use of exercise is still controversial, and more research is needed to maximize its clinical relevance [ 20 ].…”