Livestreaming Health Lessons Can Enhance Ache, Joint Stiffness, and Fatigue

Distance learning courses like yoga, Pilates, and Tai Chi are beneficial for people with musculoskeletal problems like osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and osteoporosis, according to a study presented at the American College of Rheumatology’s 2021 annual meeting.

After taking bi-weekly, 60-minute, low-intensity, six-week Zoom fitness classes, participants improved physically and became more socially active, say researchers at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City.

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6 Week Remote Program Improved mobility, pain, stiffness, other symptoms

Of the 355 people examined (out of a total of 6,779 participants), 161 reported a disease of the musculoskeletal system themselves. Musculoskeletal disorders that affect joints, bones, or muscles include inflammatory arthritis and other chronic conditions associated with pain, impairment, and disability.

Most of the participants were female, older than 60 and white. This group reported that in every six-week virtual practice session, with any participation, they achieved the following:

• 5 percent reported a decrease in overall pain
• 5 percent decrease in joint stiffness
• 7 percent less pain when walking
• 8 percent less fatigue

Those who said they attended twice a week or more for six weeks reported even more improvements:

• 11 percent decrease in pain intensity
• 12 percent decrease in stiffness
• 9 percent less fatigue and less pain that affects all aspects of daily life, including general activity, mood, ability to walk, normal work, relationships with others, sleep, and general enjoyment of life

Live streaming practice courses versus on-demand online courses

Live remote training programs offer a two-way interactive experience: participants remotely connect to a computer, smartphone, or tablet for a video conference or meeting, usually from home. During the class, students may have the opportunity to talk to others and receive personal feedback from the teacher, who can see and hear them through the device’s camera and microphone.

HSS offered a remote, live course that had to take place at a scheduled time but allowed direct interaction with the teacher and other students. Unlike pre-recorded online courses (often free) that you can attend whenever you want, the live courses allow interaction and professional supervision. Online or on-demand fitness classes are similar to the “one-way” classes offered by video or DVD recording.

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Virtual, low-impact programs also offer socializing and support

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), loneliness affects more than a third of adults aged 45 and over and nearly a quarter of adults aged 65 and over. (Obviously, the COVID-19 pandemic has made human connection very difficult.) There are many health risks associated with social isolation, including dementia, mental health issues, and premature death.

A study published in Quality in Aging and Older Adults in June 2017 found a strong association between social isolation and loneliness and chronic musculoskeletal disorders. To work on this, the HSS research team built a social component into their training programs. “We made sure that our lessons are structured in such a way that interaction with others is improved. We encouraged dialogue before class started so people could talk and share experiences. They said it helped foster social connections, ”says Titilayo Ologhobo, MPH, director of results and data analysis at HSS and author of the new study.

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“Flexibility and convenience” and other factors made the fitness classes feasible

The team did not collect data comparing virtual and in-person courses, but the feedback they received was that participants enjoyed the virtual program because of the flexibility in terms of time and the convenience of training at home. Other barriers to exercise that have been known to challenge people with arthritis and other conditions include physical accessibility, travel conditions, and pain associated with moving. A study published in the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Journal found that people with osteoarthritis had the following barriers to regular classroom exercise.

• weather Many people with osteoarthritis are sensitive to the cold and moisture and don’t feel well enough to exercise on cold days or feel safe enough to go outside on icy, humid days.
• Accessibility of training facilities The actual space, classes, or accessibility may not be user-friendly for people with arthritis problems. For example, stairs can be a deal breaker.
• transport Some people with arthritis have trouble driving and rely on other people to travel because there are no other modes of transport.
• costs Gym memberships can get expensive. However, virtual programs are either free or at least cheaper.
• Self-image People can feel uncomfortable in a gym due to their poor body awareness. They can be embarrassed about how they look or their skills. A virtual class allows them to control how much they want to expose themselves.