Shaped by people with spinal cord injury, study puts exercise to the test for chronic pain
Exercise prescribed according to international spinal cord injury guidelines can reduce the intensity of chronic pain when done in everyday settings, according to a new UBC Okanagan–led clinical trial.
A new clinical trial led by researchers at UBC Okanagan has found that exercise, when prescribed according to guidelines for spinal cord injury, may help reduce chronic pain in those affected. Chronic pain is common among people with spinal cord injuries, often more debilitating than the injury itself, and while medications are typically used, they come with side effects and limited effectiveness for some.
The study, published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, involved 46 adults with spinal cord injury and chronic neuropathic or musculoskeletal pain. Half of the participants received a personalized aerobic and strength program, supported by certified fitness trainers and weekly exercise counseling, while the other half continued with their usual activities. The participants were free to exercise at home, local gyms, or community centers.
Although the primary measure of pain, combining severity and interference, showed no significant difference between the two groups, the exercise group reported a clinically meaningful reduction in pain intensity at three and six months, compared to the control group. At six months, eight out of 18 exercise participants experienced a 30% or more reduction in pain intensity, while only two out of 16 in the control group had a similar decrease.
Additionally, the exercise group reported less pain interference with daily activities and improved mood, as well as greater vitality at three months.
Aerobic exercise seemed to have a more significant impact, with participants meeting the aerobic prescription consistently more often than the strength prescription. However, responses varied widely among participants, with some reporting significant pain reductions and others experiencing little or no change, or even an increase in pain.
The study, shaped by input from over 150 people with spinal cord injury and 50 clinicians, also faced numerous interruptions due to COVID-19 restrictions and wildfire evacuations, limiting recruitment to fewer participants than initially planned.
While the findings suggest that a standardized exercise prescription can be delivered in real-world settings and may offer a drug-free option for some people with chronic pain, the researchers emphasize that it is not a cure-all and larger trials are needed to confirm these findings.
Written by urgent.news from Medical Xpress's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
