ANZMUSC Public Lecture - Living Well with Back and Joint Pain

The theme of this year's lecture is exercise and lifestyle interventions for osteoarthritis and low back pain. More details to come.

- Brisbane North Public Health Network & PainWISE

- The University of Sydney

The PHOENIX trial aimed to test whether adding aerobic exercise to a resistance (strengthening) program would reduce hip pain and improve function in people with hip osteoarthritis. Almost 200 people were assigned to either: (1) a combined aerobic and resistance program or (2) resistance exercise alone. Both groups received a home exercise plan and nine physiotherapy consultations over 3 months.

We found that, despite spending 48% more time in moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activity, people in the combined group had similar improvements in pain and function compared to those doing resistance training only. Unwanted side effects (e.g. muscle soreness etc) were also comparable in the two exercise groups. Early signals suggested that participants with poor sleep before the study experienced greater improvements in function when aerobic exercise was added.

Key trial findings:

• Adding aerobic exercise to resistance training did not improve hip pain or function more than resistance exercise alone.
• Participants in the combined group did 48% more moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activity.
• Early signals suggest people with poor sleep may benefit more when aerobic activity is added.

- The University of Sydney

The HeLP trial:

Question: What is the effect of integrating healthy lifestyle care into back pain management on low back pain disability compared with current guideline-recommended care?

Findings: In this randomised clinical trial with 346 participants, there was a greater mean reduction in disability favouring the healthy lifestyle approach compared with guideline care alone, equivalent to a mean difference of −1.3 points out of 24. Participants in the healthy lifestyle group who complied with treatment had large clinical meaningful improvements in disability.

Meaning: This study suggests that lifestyle care can safely be integrated into care for chronic low back pain, providing small improvements in disability above current guideline-recommended care and an opportunity to concurrently address prevalent chronic disease risks in this patient group.

- The University of Melbourne

The YOGA trial aimed to compare the effectiveness of a yoga program versus a strengthening exercise program for reducing knee pain over 12 weeks in people with knee osteoarthritis. 117 people were assigned to either the yoga or strengthening group, which both consisted of 2 supervised and 1 home session per week for 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, participants were transitioned to a home-based program which they were instructed to complete 3 times per week. We found that both groups reported improvements in knee pain and that one program was not superior to another. Yoga was linked to slightly greater improvements in overall symptoms, quality of life, and depression compared to strengthening. This work provides high-quality evidence for yoga as a therapeutic treatment exercise for knee osteoarthritis.

Key trial findings:

• Yoga is as effective as strengthening exercises for knee osteoarthritis.
• Yoga was linked with improvements in symptoms, quality of life, and depression, supporting it as a viable exercise treatment for knee osteoarthritis.

- Representative on the QLD Metro South Health Board

- Group Medical Director, Medibank

We would also like to recognise our supporters, who have helped promote and enhance the visibility of this event.

Prof. Christine Lin, Ms. Helen Ramsay, Mr. Harrison Hansford, A/Prof. Katie de Luca, Ms. Sarah Cummings, Mr. Geoffrey Ryan AM

We would like to extend our gratitude for their dedication and hard work in making this event a success!

Info: Please aim to arrive at, or shortly after, 6pm. This will allow time for all guests to be registered and seated for a prompt 6:30pm start.

Info: Please stay and enjoy some light refreshments.

Host or Publisher ANZMUSC