Effectiveness of Three Physical Treatments on Pain Perception and Emotional State in Males with Chronic Joint Pain

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of massage therapy (MT), high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) as three physical therapies on pain perception and negative emotional state (NES) in males with chronic joint pain (CJP). This double-blind randomized experimental study was done with three pretest, posttest, and follow-up stages within three experimental groups and the control group. Participants recruited by a random sampling method in each group that they were 160 patients with CJP. A demographic questionnaire, the Short-Form-McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale- 21 (DASS-SF-21) were used in this study. Findings showed significant differences in the effectiveness of MT, HIIT, and NMES on pain symptoms and NES in experimental and control groups during post-test and follow-up stages. The MT, HIIT, and NMES were effective in decreasing the sensory experience of pain, the affective experience of pain, the present pain intensity (PPI), and depression, anxiety, and stress among outpatients with CJP in the experimental groups during post-test and follow-up stages. NMES, HIIT, and MT may be considered by health professionals as effective interventions to reduce pain perception and NES in patients with CJP.

Keywords: Chronic joint pain; High-intensity interval training; Massage therapy; Negative emotional state; Neuromuscular electrical stimulation; Physical therapy.