A RANDOMIZED TRIAL OF WALKING VERSUS PHYSICAL METHODS FOR CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT

We conducted a pilot study to evaluate a practical exercise program fo r elderly people with chronic musculo-skeletal pain. Thirtyt-three sub jects (mean age, 73 years; 69% back pain; 24% knee pain; 9% hip pain) were randomly assigned to one of three groups. Group 1 received a 6-we ek supervised program of walking, Group 2 received a pain education pr ogram that included instruction and demonstration of use of heat, cold , massage, relaxation and distraction. Group 3 received usual care, Ou tcomes including pain, self-reported health and Junctional status, and performance-based measures of Junctional status were evaluated at bas eline, at two weeks and at eight weeks (end of study). Attendance was 100% for the education sessions and 93% for walking sessions. No injur ies were sustained, Both intervention groups demonstrated significant improvements in pain (p<0.05) and performance-based measures of Juncti onal status (p<0.05), while the control group had no changes. These da ta suggest that patient education and fitness walking can improve over all pain management and related Junctional limitations among elderly p eople with chronic musculo-skeletal pain. (C) 1997, Editrice Kurtis.