Quarantine and Telerehabilitation in Chronic Pain Patients During COVID-19 Pandemic.

The Impact of Quarantine and the Effectiveness of Telerehabilitation in Patients With Chronic Pain During COVID-19 Pandemic.

The quarantine during COVID-19 pandemic has changed daily routine. Staying at home for prolonged periods of time can pose a significant challenge for patients with chronic pain. The purpose of the current study is to investigate how the quarantine effects of psychosocial factors, quality of life, sleep, nutrition and physical activity in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Another purpose is to examine whether a telerehabilitation exercise program is effective during the lockdown period.

Participants, both male and female, with chronic musculoskeletal pain for at least 3 months will be included in the study. They will complete some questions about anxiety, depression, sleep, nutrition, quality of life, pain behavior and characteristics, illness perceptions, functioning and daily routine. Questionnaires will be completed twice (first and last week of quarantine, 40 days of duration). A group of patients will follow an exercise program during this time. It will be evaluated the link between the question of physical and psychological factors in the experience of pain in quarantine situation and, also, it will examine whether a telerehabilitation exercise program is effective during the lockdown period.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient with chronic musculoskeletal pain (Chronic pain will be defined as pain lasting for 3 or more months. Also, pain intensity will be at least 3 on a 0-10 numerical pain rating scale on most days of the last 3 months).
• Patient with sufficient understanding of the Greek language

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients without being at quarantine
• Systemic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and/or polymyalgia rheumatic
• Osteoporosis, haemophilia and/or cancer
• Recent surgery or trauma
• Being pregnant or given birth in the preceding year
• Cognitive impairment
• Inability to provide informed consent and/or complete written questionnaires