Pain-Reducing Effects of Physical Therapist-Delivered Interventions: A Systematic Review of Randomized Trials Among Older Adults With Dementia.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to summarize the literature on physical therapist-delivered interventions, including massage, for reducing pain among older adults with dementia.
Results Summary
Massage showed pain-reducing effects in one study compared with no treatment, while passive movement did not demonstrate significant benefits. The overall evidence supporting physical therapy interventions for pain reduction in dementia patients was limited.
Population
Older adults (60+ years) with medically diagnosed dementia of any severity (mean age range = 82.2-84.0 years; 80.2% female).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
passive movement | no change | pain outcomes | older adults with dementia | - | did not show better results | #1 |
massage | decrease | pain outcomes | older adults with dementia | - | showed pain-reducing effects | #2 |
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Pain is common among older adults with dementia. There are nonpharmacological options for managing pain in this population. However, the effects of physical therapist-delivered interventions have not been summarized. The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize the literature on physical therapist-delivered interventions in randomized trials for reducing pain among older adults with dementia. METHODS: A systematic search of MEDLINE/PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science was conducted for randomized trials of pain management in individuals 60 years or older with medically diagnosed dementia of any severity. Included studies addressed the effects of nonpharmacological physical therapist-delivered interventions on pain outcomes. Pain outcomes included patient or caregiver self-report, observational or interactive measures. Independent reviewers extracted relevant data and assessed methodological quality using the PEDro scale. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Three studies (total = 222 participants; mean age range = 82.2-84.0 years; 178 [80.2%] females) met inclusion criteria. PEDro scores ranged from 4 to 8/10. Interventions included passive movement and massage. Pain outcomes included the observational measures Pain Assessment Checklist for Seniors with Limited Ability to Communicate (PACSLAC), Pain in Advanced Dementia (PAINAD), and Doloplus-2 Scale. Passive movement did not show better results when compared with no treatment, while massage showed pain-reducing effects in 1 study compared with no treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence supporting pain-reducing physical therapy interventions for patients with dementia is limited. There is a clear gap in knowledge related to evidence-based physical therapy for managing pain in this population. Future studies should examine active physical therapist-delivered interventions and utilize interactive pain measures.