Follow Through with Home Physical Therapy Programs

Musculoskeletal Care published research on adherence to home physiotherapy in children and young people with joint hypermobility.  Twenty eight families participated in a qualitative study that included multidisciplinary treatment interventions including physical therapy for children (5-17 years old).  The parents and the children reported that exercise helped the symptoms of joint hypermobility. 

There was increased follow through to exercise programs with the following:

  • Parental motivation
  • adapting family routines
  • making exercise a family activity
  • seeing benefit increased adherence to exercise

When exercise programs were not adhered to the following was reported:

  • lower levels of parental supervision
  • not understanding the treatment
  • not seeing benefit 
  • not having specific time to dedicate to doing the exercises.

Reference:   Birt, L., Pfeil, M., MacGregor, A., Armon, K. and Poland, F. (2013), Adherence to Home Physiotherapy Treatment in Children and Young People with Joint Hypermobility: A Qualitative Report of Family Perspectives on Acceptability and Efficacy. Musculoskelet. Care. doi: 10.1002/msc.1055

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