What role can physiotherapists play in enhancing patient adherence to physiotherapy treatment of lower back pain in adults: a scoping-review

Jack Messenger; Simon Godley

doi:10.1016/j.physio.2025.101717

What role can physiotherapists play in enhancing patient adherence to physiotherapy treatment of lower back pain in adults: a scoping-review

Jack Messenger
, Simon Godley

University of Cumbria

Research output: Contribution to journal › Conference article › peer-review

Abstract

Purpose: Lower back pain (LBP) is a prominent and escalating problem in adults in the UK and worldwide. LBP is a leading cause of disability and workforce absenteeism, with symptoms reportedly made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. The prevalence of LBP is expected to rise, compounded by a reduced accessibility to physiotherapy services following the COVID-19 pandemic, posing a significant public health problem. To address this problem physiotherapists, prescribe home-based exercise programmes (HEPs). However, patient non-adherence to HEPs is high and therefore expected benefits aren’t delivered. This isn’t understood within the literature, including the role that physiotherapists can play to enhance adherence.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	101717
Journal	Physiotherapy
Volume	126
Early online date	27 Mar 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2025.101717
Publication status	Published - 1 Apr 2025

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title = "What role can physiotherapists play in enhancing patient adherence to physiotherapy treatment of lower back pain in adults: a scoping-review",

abstract = "Purpose: Lower back pain (LBP) is a prominent and escalating problem in adults in the UK and worldwide. LBP is a leading cause of disability and workforce absenteeism, with symptoms reportedly made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. The prevalence of LBP is expected to rise, compounded by a reduced accessibility to physiotherapy services following the COVID-19 pandemic, posing a significant public health problem. To address this problem physiotherapists, prescribe home-based exercise programmes (HEPs). However, patient non-adherence to HEPs is high and therefore expected benefits aren{\textquoteright}t delivered. This isn{\textquoteright}t understood within the literature, including the role that physiotherapists can play to enhance adherence.",

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N2 - Purpose: Lower back pain (LBP) is a prominent and escalating problem in adults in the UK and worldwide. LBP is a leading cause of disability and workforce absenteeism, with symptoms reportedly made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. The prevalence of LBP is expected to rise, compounded by a reduced accessibility to physiotherapy services following the COVID-19 pandemic, posing a significant public health problem. To address this problem physiotherapists, prescribe home-based exercise programmes (HEPs). However, patient non-adherence to HEPs is high and therefore expected benefits aren’t delivered. This isn’t understood within the literature, including the role that physiotherapists can play to enhance adherence.

AB - Purpose: Lower back pain (LBP) is a prominent and escalating problem in adults in the UK and worldwide. LBP is a leading cause of disability and workforce absenteeism, with symptoms reportedly made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. The prevalence of LBP is expected to rise, compounded by a reduced accessibility to physiotherapy services following the COVID-19 pandemic, posing a significant public health problem. To address this problem physiotherapists, prescribe home-based exercise programmes (HEPs). However, patient non-adherence to HEPs is high and therefore expected benefits aren’t delivered. This isn’t understood within the literature, including the role that physiotherapists can play to enhance adherence.

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DO - 10.1016/j.physio.2025.101717

M3 - Conference article

SN - 1873-1465

VL - 126

SP - 101717

JO - Physiotherapy

JF - Physiotherapy

ER -

What role can physiotherapists play in enhancing patient adherence to physiotherapy treatment of lower back pain in adults: a scoping-review

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