Objective: To compare the effects of motivational interviewing with conventional physical therapy in the rehabilitation of chronic musculoskeletal disorders compared to conventional physical therapy alone.
Methods: The quasi-experimental study was conducted from September 2017 to March 2018 after approval from the University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan, and comprised patients with chronic musculoskeletal disorders enrolled from various outpatient physical therapy clinics in Lahore. The subjects were alternatively allocated to intervention group A and control group B, with the former receiving motivational interviewing along with conventional physical therapy, and the latter receiving conventional physical therapy alone. The effects of the intervention were measured using visual analogue scale, patient-specific functional scale and exercise compliance chart with two-week follow-up. Data was analysed using SPSS 21.
Results: Of the 96 subjects, there were 48(50%) in each of the two groups. There were 21(44%) males and 27(56%) females in group A with a mean age of 50.10±10.35 years, and 23(48%) males and 25(52%) females in group B with a mean age of 50.18±11.58 years. Pain score and functional status were significantly better in group A compared to group B from the baseline to day 14 (p<0.001). Exercise compliance was significantly different between the groups (p<0.001). Intra-group effects of pain intensity, functional status and exercise compliance were also significant (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Integration of motivational interviewing with conventional physical therapy was found to decrease pain and functional limitations and improve exercise compliance.
Keywords: Motivational interviewing, Musculoskeletal pain, Physical therapy, Patient compliance, Rehabilitation..