Frontiers in Medicine, 2021 · DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.756940 · Published: November 24, 2021
Neuropathic pain (NP) is a severe symptom that restricts physical function and leads to anxiety and depression. Exercise, as a cost-effective therapy, may aid in managing NP. However, there's a lack of specific guidelines on exercise therapy for NP related to various diseases. This study summarizes the effectiveness of exercise for various diseases associated with NP, based on available evidence. It outlines expert recommendations for managing NP arising from different causes and aims to provide guidelines for policymakers. The expert consensus recommends exercise programs as an effective alternative or complementary treatment for most patients with NP. It provides medical staff and policymakers with applicable recommendations for creating exercise prescriptions for NP.
Medical staff can use the expert consensus to formulate exercise prescriptions for patients with NP, considering specific conditions and exercise types.
Policymakers can use the guidelines to inform healthcare policies related to non-pharmacological pain management strategies.
The study highlights the need for more high-quality randomized controlled trials to provide superior evidence for exercise interventions for NP.