The quarantine during COVID-19 pandemic has changed daily routine. Staying at home for prolonged periods of time can pose a significant challenge for patients with chronic pain. The purpose of the current study is to investigate how the quarantine effects of psychosocial factors, quality of life, sleep, nutrition and physical activity in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Another purpose is to examine whether a telerehabilitation exercise program is effective during the lockdown period.
Participants, both male and female, with chronic musculoskeletal pain for at least 3 months
will be included in the study. They will complete some questions about anxiety, depression,
sleep, nutrition, quality of life, pain behavior and characteristics, illness perceptions,
functioning and daily routine. Questionnaires will be completed twice (first and last week of
quarantine, 40 days of duration). A group of patients will follow an exercise program during
this time. It will be evaluated the link between the question of physical and psychological
factors in the experience of pain in quarantine situation and, also, it will examine whether
a telerehabilitation exercise program is effective during the lockdown period.
Other: Exercise Group
The group follows warm up exercise (maximum 10 minutes). This consisted of combined, breathing techniques, low-impact aerobic exercises, free range of motion exercises of upper and lower limbs and spine, and coordination-based exercises of hands and feet. Breathing techniques take regular activities such as sitting, walking, and lying down. At the end of this phase, active stretching exercises of major muscles of arm, leg and trunk were performed.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patient with chronic musculoskeletal pain (Chronic pain will be defined as pain
lasting for 3 or more months. Also, pain intensity will be at least 3 on a 0-10
numerical pain rating scale on most days of the last 3 months).
- Patient with sufficient understanding of the Greek language
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients without being at quarantine
- Systemic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and/or polymyalgia
rheumatic
- Osteoporosis, haemophilia and/or cancer
- Recent surgery or trauma
- Being pregnant or given birth in the preceding year
- Cognitive impairment
- Inability to provide informed consent and/or complete written questionnaires
Clinical Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory
Lamia, Sterea Ellada, Greece