Adherence to home exercise programs in patients with chronic low back pain after physiotherapy discharge
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62827/fb.v27i3.1163Keywords:
Low Back Pain; Chronic Pain; Exercise; Rehabilitation.Abstract
Introduction: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is one of the leading causes of global disability. Active treatment with exercise is the most effective strategy; however, its sustainability depends on patients’ continued adherence to home-based recommendations after discharge from physical therapy. Adherence is a multifactorial outcome influenced by both physical and psychosocial factors. Objective: To measure the level of adherence of patients with chronic low back pain to prescribed therapeutic exercises after discharge from physical therapy, as well as to identify determining factors that act as barriers and facilitators. Methods: A cross-sectional study including 41 patients treated between 2020 and 2025 was conducted. The Numeric Pain Rating Scale and the Exercise Adherence Rating Scale (EARS-BR) were applied. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 20.0, adopting a significance level of α = 0.05. Results: Among the 41 participants (82.9% female; 54.9 ± 16.7 years), 80.5% reported persistent pain. The mean adherence score was 14.15 ± 6.46, indicating moderate adherence. Identified facilitators included personal motivation, family support, and the desire for improved health. Reported barriers included worsening pain, fatigue, and lack of routine organization. Conclusion: Adherence to home-based exercises was moderate and represents a process influenced by multiple dimensions, in which psychosocial factors play a significant role. Therefore, the importance of pain education and a biopsychosocial approach is reinforced, along with family support and continuous follow-up after discharge, as crucial strategies to optimize rehabilitation.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Miguel Pardini Rabelo, Geraldo Luis de Castro Neto, André Carvalho Costa , Viviane Gontijo Augusto (Autor)
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