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Patients suffering from painful joints who undertake 120 minutes of physical activity weekly experience reduced discomfort, visit their doctor less frequently, and take less sick leave, according to recent analysis.

Study Results and Approach

The results stem from an evaluation of how 40,000 people with musculoskeletal discomfort in key joints responded to two one-hour physical activity sessions each week for three months.

The impact on their quality of life was so substantial that it has triggered calls for public health to make physical activity a regular component of treatment for countless individuals experiencing musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions.

Economic and Health Gains

If the millions of individuals with musculoskeletal discomfort but lacking a care plan exercised for two hours weekly, then they, their loved ones, the NHS, and the national economy would gain by as much as thirty-four billion pounds, researchers state.

The systematic activity regimen was examined by academic institutions, who reviewed the no-cost scheme offered to over 40,000 people with musculoskeletal issues across multiple boroughs.

Volunteers attended two one-hour sessions each week in fitness centers, supervised by rehabilitation specialists, and undertook movements to boost their movement capability, stability, strength, and cardiovascular health.

Significant Improvements Found

• Experienced on average 35% less discomfort

• Consulted their doctor 29% less often

• Required approximately half as many sick days

• Required their family to look after them significantly less

"Personalized, structured physical activity is one of the optimal treatments for patients with long-term conditions. If movement were a medication, it would be the most effective treatment on the world, yet it remains under-prescribed.

"Incorporating it as a management strategy into conventional medicine would transform lives on a magnitude no drug could achieve", commented a senior physician.

Financial Value Analysis

The research found that if one hundred eighty-four thousand of the 334,000 individuals with joint pain engaged in the free exercise scheme, that would deliver £1.7bn of "social value".

Applying this to encompass the entire nation would raise that figure to £34bn, the experts stated. This would be composed of £18bn of gains from enhanced wellbeing, thirteen billion pounds of value to family members and caregivers, a £3bn increase to the UK economy, and £230m in direct savings for medical systems.

Specific Gains

For illustration, volunteers' wellbeing indicators improved by 13%, which was determined to be valued at £6,680 in economic benefit. Similarly, their drop in absenteeism was estimated to be worth a notable amount while the ten percent enhancement in their caregivers' happiness levels was calculated at £4,765.

Employment and Work Capacity Advantages

At the start of the musculoskeletal initiative, a quarter of those who participated in the classes could not work, and by the end of the program duration, approximately ten percent were fit enough to resume employment.

An academic professor commented that the study demonstrated "the significant effect of movement" in managing pain among the 25 million UK residents with multiple long-term health conditions and serves as "a blueprint" for a nationwide programme of healthcare-provided exercise.

Medical System Proposals

Medical services should "integrate systematic movement therapy in recommended care pathways" and advise hospitals and GP practices to direct eligible individuals to them, the study said.

However, charity leaders commented that while physical activity enhanced daily living for people with chronic pain, it was not the "universal solution" the research implies; they could have difficulty incorporating physical activity into their lives and often faced "challenges in obtaining suitable therapy and support from healthcare systems, prolonged periods to secure a professional evaluation and absence of therapy choices".

Existing Programmes

A six-week pain reduction programme of information, movement and self-management managed by some NHS providers in England, called Pain Management, which 15,000 people have participated in, has been shown to improve quality of life for patients with arthritis and also save medical services resources and funds.

Official Response

A government health agency spokesperson commented: "We know that experiencing persistent discomfort can have a major influence on daily wellbeing. We will transform healthcare systems by moving treatment from disease to prevention to enable patients healthy and autonomous for extended periods through our long-term healthcare initiative.

"Furthermore, we plan to harness the capability of digital tools which can help maintain people active. This involves making certain all clients with chronic pain have availability to wearable technology as part of their management, especially in disadvantaged communities."