Analgesic effects of physical exercise in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain during confinement by the COVID -19 pandemic

Abstract

Introduction:The confinement experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain for more than two months,could severely affect the condition and quality of life of patients suffering from chronic musculoskeletal pain. Taking into account the analgesic effects that physical exercise can generate, a large part of the population has carried out some kind of physical exercise at home as a mechanism for pain control, during this period. Objective:The objective of this study was to know the type and dosage of the exercise performed, as well as the perception of the patient ́s pain during the confinament period. Material and method: An ad hoc survey by a Google Form was conducted in 86 patients to find out the health status of the patients, the type of exercise they performed and the dossage of the exercise, as well as whether they had perceived a reduction in their pain during the period of confinement. Results:The pain intensity was reduced significantly (p = 0.001) when some kind of exercise was done. Strength exercise exclusively was chosen by 51% of the population, and the frequencies and session time were not significantly different bet-ween the subjects who felt a reduction in pain and those who did not. Conclusion:A schedule of physical exercise 4 days a week, for at least 50 minutes and with intensities around 77% of HR-máx of aerobic or strength training would be recommended in patients with chronic pain, as a strategy for pain reduction. The results of our study do not advise, for patients with chronic pain, combined therapy sessions, regardless of the primary location of the pain.