Abstract
Objective
To compare the efficacy of region-specific exercises to general exercises approaches
for adults with spinal or peripheral musculoskeletal disorders (MSKDs).
Data Sources
Electronic searches were conducted up to April 2020 in Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central
Register of Controlled Trials, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health.
Study Selection
Randomized control trials (RCTs) on the efficacy of region-specific exercises compared
to general exercises approaches for adults with various MSKDs.
Data Extraction
Mean differences and standardized mean differences were calculated using random-effects
inverse variance modeling. Eighteen RCTs (n=1719) were included. Cohorts were composed
of participants with chronic neck (n=313) or low back disorders (n=1096) and knee
osteoarthritis (OA) (n=310).
Data Synthesis
Based on low-quality evidence in the short-term and very low-quality in the mid- and
long-term, there were no statistically significant differences between region-specific
and general exercises in terms of pain and disability reductions for adults with spinal
disorders or knee OA. Secondary analyses for pain reduction in the short-term for
neck or low back disorders did not report any statistically significant differences
according to very low- to low-quality of evidence.
Conclusions
The difference in treatment effect remains uncertain between region-specific and general
exercises approaches. Based on very low- to low-quality evidence, there appear to
have no differences between both types of exercise approaches for pain reduction or
disability for adults with spinal disorders. Future trials may change the current
conclusions. More evidence is needed for region-specific exercises compared to general
exercises for other peripheral MSKDs including knee OA.
Keywords
List of abbreviations:
CI (confidence interval), GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations), LBP (low back pain), MCE (motor control exercise), MD (mean difference), MSKD (musculoskeletal disorder), NRS (Numeric Rating Scale), OA (osteoarthritis), RCT (randomized controlled trial), SF-36 (Short Form-36 Health Survey), SMD (standardized mean difference), VAS (visual analog scale)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 05, 2021
Accepted:
January 20,
2021
Received:
January 19,
2021
Footnotes
Supported by Dr Desmeules’ Canadian Institutes of Health Research Program New Investigator Salary and Research Award in Clinical Rehabilitation (award no. 201609NCR-375311-130299).
Disclosures: none
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of The American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine.
