Virtual exercise classes safe, effective in patients with musculoskeletal disease
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Hour-long, virtual exercise classes that cover Pilates, yoga and tai chi are safe and improved health outcomes in patients with musculoskeletal disease, according to data presented at ACR Convergence 2021.
The classes, which were implemented among the study population during the COVID-19 pandemic, also helped patients feel more socially connected, the presenter said.
“Loneliness and social isolation are serious public health risks that affect about one-fourth of older adults in the United States, and about a quarter of these older adults are physically inactive,” Titilayo Ologhobo, MPH, of the Hospital for Special Surgery, in New York, told attendees at a virtual press conference. “And we could also see that this physical inactivity does contribute to incidence of musculoskeletal and chronic conditions, which affect about a quarter of adult 65 years or older.”
“The Hospital for Special Surgery Education Institute provides community education for patients and the public, and in March of 2020, during the height of the pandemic, we were unable to offer in-person programs,” she added. “Considering the impact of the pandemic, we had to quickly adapt. So, we pivoted from exclusively in-person to virtual programming. We had to really think about safety, and what were the exercise programs that people could actually conduct safely from their homes. And based on this we have introduced a variety of low-intensity exercise programs that could be conducted safely at home.”
To assess whether this pivot to virtual classes was safe and effective at improving health outcomes, Ologhobo and colleagues conducted pre- and post-program online surveys among the participants. The 60-minute virtual classes featured low-intensity Pilates, yoga and tai chi exercises via Zoom. The program was targeted and structured to provide increased opportunity for physical activity and social interaction with others, Ologhobo said. Participants were able to talk and socialized before each class began.
Through the online surveys, the researchers assessed sociodemographic data and self-reported health outcomes, including pain intensity, pain interfering with daily life, physical function, stiffness, fatigue, physical activity and self-efficacy. The longitudinal analysis included regression models.
According to the researchers, a total of 5,030 people participated in the virtual classes. Among the 355 patients who were assessed via survey, 161 reported having a musculoskeletal condition. Overall, these participants reported a 5% decrease in pain intensity, a 7% decrease in pain interfering in their ability to walk, an 8% decrease in fatigue, and a 5% decrease in joint stiffness with every 6-week session. Participants also more frequently reported improved pain, fatigue and stiffness, as well as improvements in their ability to perform daily activities.
In addition, the 33 assessed patients who participated in classes at least twice a week reported an 11% decrease in pain intensity, a 12% decrease in stiffness and a 9% decrease in fatigue. They also reported a decrease in pain interfering with all aspects of daily life, including general activity, mood, walking ability, normal work, relations with others, sleep and enjoyment of life, with every 6-week virtual session.
“We were glad to see these changes, and it shows that our targeted approach proved to be successful and improved health outcomes,” Ologhobo said. “It helped in fostering social connectedness in participants with musculoskeletal conditions. Shifting to virtual programs also helped to increase reach, meaning we started seeing people across the country, across the globe, coming to our programs, which also helped reduce the negative impact of isolation.
“This enabled those with musculoskeletal conditions to have access to effective programs, even at a time when resources were eliminated, programs had stopped, and community centers and organizations that these populations typically go to were not open,” she added. “We're glad that we're able to provide the care and the programs for this audience, to be able to continue to manage their conditions, and let them have improved health outcomes and also that confidence to do this at their own time, to ensure that they lead healthier lives.”
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Ologhobo T. Abstract 1451. Presented at: ACR Convergence 2021; November 5-9, 2021 (virtual meeting).
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