Riassunto dello studio

Three hundred sixty adult patients with blunt chest wall trauma were randomized to receive either an early exercise program involving thoracic and shoulder girdle movements (n=179) or usual care (n=177). The primary outcome was the prevalence of chronic pain at three months post-injury. Secondary outcomes included pain severity, pain interference, health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L), and cost-effectiveness. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and again three months post-injury. Overall, the results revealed no statistically significant differences between the intervention and control groups in terms of chronic pain prevalence, pain severity, or health-related quality of life. The intervention was also not cost-effective. These findings suggest that a simple early exercise program does not improve patient outcomes or justify additional costs in this population.