Abstract
Background
Free From Pain (aka Fear Reduction, Exercise Early with Food from plants, Rest and relaxation, Organisation and Motivation to decrease Pain from Arthritis and Increase Natural Strength) is a functional rehabilitation programme to combat sarcopenia and musculoskeletal pain in seniors. It is also published as a book (ISBN-0995676941). The aim of this audit was to evaluate the safety and suitability of the exercises and the usefulness of the exercise book.
Methods and Results
Participants were volunteers who paid to attend the Free From Pain Exercise programme. Participants evaluated the exercises using a 5-point Likert scale and the Exercise Book using the Usefulness Scale for Patient Information Material (USE). 30 participants attended the Free From Pain programme. 26 participants completed the questionnaire. This included 20 females and 6 males, with a mean age of 76 years. The mean scores on the 0 to 5 Likert scales were A) Exercises were suitable? 4.69; B) Exercises were safe? 4.58; C) Absence of any injury or medical event whilst exercising? 4.58; D) Covered all body parts? 4.38; E) Easy to do at home? 4.42; F) Encouraged to do more exercise? 4.42; G) Recommend to family and friends? 4.50. The mean scores of the cognitive, emotional, and behavioural sub domains of the USE scale, scored 0 to 30, were 25.23, 23.73 and 23.69, respectively.
Conclusion
The pre-pilot study suggests that the suggested exercises are safe and suitable for seniors, and that the exercise book is holistically useful.
Conflict of Interest: G Ampat sells the Free From Pain Exercise book online through Amazon and other platforms. S Rhodes and J Sims are employed by Talita Cumi Ltd, of which Free From Pain is a trading name. Jacqueline Howard is a medical student and has no conflict of interest.
Sources of funding: No funding was obtained.
