Maintained physical activity and physiotherapy in the management of distal arm pain: a randomised controlled trial

Gareth T Jones* (Corresponding Author), Gary J Macfarlane, Karen Walker-Bone, Kim Burton, Peter Heine, Candida McCabe, Paul McNamee, Alex McConnachie, Rachel Zhang, Daniel Whibley, Keith Palmer, David Coggon

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)
9 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Objectives The epidemiology of distal arm pain and back pain are similar. However, management differs considerably: for back pain, rest is discouraged, whereas patients with distal arm pain are commonly advised to rest and referred to physiotherapy. We hypothesised that remaining active would reduce long-term disability and that fast-track physiotherapy would be superior to physiotherapy after time on a waiting list.

Methods Adults referred to community-based physiotherapy with distal arm pain were randomised to: advice to remain active while awaiting physiotherapy (typically delivered after 6–8 weeks); advice to rest while awaiting physiotherapy, or immediate treatment. Intention-to-treat analysis determined whether the probability of recovery at 26 weeks was greater among the active advice group, compared with those advised to rest and/or among those receiving immediate versus usually timed physiotherapy.

Results 538 of 1663 patients invited between February 2012 and February 2014 were randomised (active=178; rest=182; immediate physiotherapy=178). 81% provided primary outcome data, and complete recovery was reported by 60 (44%), 46 (32%) and 53 (35%). Those advised to rest experienced a lower probability of recovery (OR: 0.54; 95% CI 0.32 to 0.90) versus advice to remain active. However, there was no benefit of immediate physiotherapy (0.64; 95% CI 0.39 to 1.07).

Conclusions Among patients awaiting physiotherapy for distal arm pain, advice to remain active results in better 26-week functional outcome, compared with advice to rest. Also, immediate physiotherapy confers no additional benefit in terms of disability, compared with physiotherapy delivered after 6–8 weeks waiting time. These findings question current guidance for the management of distal arm pain.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere000810
Number of pages11
JournalRMD Open
Volume5
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4 Mar 2019

Bibliographical note

The study was funded by Arthritis Research UK (reference: 19231). As
part of the grant-awarding procedure, the funder and external parties working
for the funder, reviewed and commented on the study design and regular update
reports on study progress were submitted to the funder’s Progress Review
Committee. However, they had no role in the collection, analysis and interpretation
of data; nor in the writing of the report; nor the decision to submit the paper for
publication.

Data sharing statement Relevant anonymised patient level data are available on
reasonable request, from the corresponding author.

Keywords

  • Fibromyalgis/pain syndromes
  • Health services research
  • Physcial therapy

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