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"WALK30X5": a feasibility study of a physiotherapy walking programme for people with mild to moderate musculoskeletal
Catherine J Minns Lowe1, Paul Kelly2, Karen Milton3
1Physiotherapy Research Unit, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Windmill Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 7HE, UK.
Objectives:
To explore the feasibility of delivering and evaluating a web-based walking intervention for people with long term musculoskeletal conditions (LTMCs), to determine its acceptability and the feasibility of conducting a definitive trial.
Design:
Prospective randomised feasibility study, with blind outcome assessment at baseline, 3 and 6 months.
Setting:
Hospital based physiotherapy service.
Participants:
Forty one adults referred for assessment and advice for any mild/moderate LTMCs. doing <120minutes of moderate intensity activity per week.
Interventions:
Participants randomised to: 1. Usual care: one usual physiotherapy advice and assessment session, including setting a physical activity goal and one follow up session (8 weeks). 2. "Walk30×5": session one, usual care plus intervention of walking programme. Participants were shown the website and podcasts and practiced how to use them. One follow up session (8 weeks).
Outcome Measures:
Primary: timed six minute walk test (T6MWT). Secondary: step count, self-reported pain, fatigue, mood, self-efficacy, happiness, objective blood pressure, peak expiratory flow rate, and self-report and accelerometer measured physical activity.
Results:
Recruitment target achieved. No adverse events occurred. Adherence was high and the intervention acceptable. Loss to follow up n=3 (7%) at 3 months, n=8 (20%) at 6 months. T6MWT and step count proved suitable outcomes, unlike accelerometry. Estimated sample size for a definitive trial is 216.
Conclusions:
"Walk30×5" is ready for evaluation in a future, appropriately powered (n=216), phase III trial. If effective, the intervention will provide a cheap, highly accessible intervention to enable people with mild/moderate LTMCs to achieve UK physical activity guidelines.
Clinical Trial Registration Number:
ISRCTN78581097.
