Background. The main goal of palliative care is to alleviate pain, as well as improving the quality of life. Pain treatment should be interdisciplinary, including physical aspect-pharmacology and physical exercises, as well as psychological and spiritual.
Material and methods. The aim of the study was to establish the impact of exercising on intensity of chronic pain and functional condition at patients terminally ill. During one month, a group of 30 patients (18 women and 12 men), suffering of chronic pain, caused by cancer, circulatory and neuro-muscular diseases, participated in physical treatment, which included strengthening and stretching exercises of large group of muscles (dorsal, abdominal and lower limb), respiratory exercises and vertical position. The intensity of pain was verified by a questionnaire, including pain scales. Second method was modified Barthel’s index, which evaluated patient's functional condition. Also the quantity and form of drugs were estimated.
Results. Studies are showing the reduction of pain level after exercising. The low intensity of pain before exercising are described by 3.3% of patients, the moderate - by 30.0% and intense - by 66.7% of patients. The intensity of pain after exercising, described as low was by 33.3% of patients, the moderate - by 43.3% and intense - by 34.4% of patients. The mean of points in Barthel's index initially was 14.6 for whole group, at the end of study - 28.0. The mean of physical condition initially was 24.0%, after study came to 46.7% (100% = 60 points in Barthel's index).The average dose of analgesic decreased. Initially it was 130 mg, the final dose was 114 mg.
Conclusion. 1.Studies prove the significant decrease of chronic pain intensity. 2. Pain was the main factor limiting patient's daily activity. 3. Exercising caused over double increase of physical condition. 4. Doses of analgesics decreased in a significant amount of patients.