The Process of Creating and Disseminating Exercise Programs by Physical Therapists for Older Adults With Chronic Back Pain

Objective. The purpose of this study was to enhance the understanding of the process that physical therapists undertake when creating and disseminating exercise programs for older adults with chronic back pain. Methods. Constructivist grounded theory methodology was used as an accessible mode of researching pragmatic clinical practices. Physical therapists from outpatient, ambulatory care clinic settings participated in in-depth, individual interviews (n = 9) and in-clinic observations (n = 5). Data collection and analysis were iterative processes. Codes were generated based on recurrent themes, and constant comparative analysis was used to compare data. Analysis and data collection were concluded when theoretical sufficiency was reached. Results. Physical therapist participants described the process of creating and implementing exercise plans as involving listening to the patient's story, determining function, physical therapy care, supported integration, and, ultimately, returning back to living and life with chronic back pain. Participants worked through the 5 phases at different rates, often recurrently, when treating older adults with chronic back pain. The phases are positioned within a shared alliance between physical therapy provider and patient, with a transfer of responsibility occurring throughout treatment and follow-up sessions, progressing toward patient independence. This transfer of responsibility served as the core category for the process herein. Conclusion. This research highlights the importance of listening to patients' stories when engaging in physical therapy care. Focusing on function, providing education and exercise as components of care, and supporting integration of exercise into everyday life are considerations for providing care for older adults with chronic back pain in physical therapist practice and, ultimately, for returning to life. Impact. With aging populations and with the increasing prevalence of chronic conditions, this research offers insight into a process for physical therapists to enact exercise engagement for improved health and quality of life for older adults with chronic back pain.