Adherence to Home Exercise Programs: The Impact of Demographic and Clinical Factors

Aim: This study aimed to explore how well patients receiving physical medicine and rehabilitation adhered to home-based exercise programs, and to better understand which demographic and clinical factors might influence their level of adherence. Material and Methods: In this prospective observational study, 296 patients who had been prescribed a standardized home exercise program were followed. Information on age, education, occupation, pain severity (measured by VAS), and adherence to the exercise plan was collected and statistically analyzed Results: Among the participants, 154 individuals (52%) were regularly following their prescribed home exercise routines. Overall, 68.2% of patients reported a noticeable reduction in pain levels. Notably, those who consistently adhered to the program experienced significantly more pain relief compared to those who were non-adherent (p < 0.001). Adherence appeared to be influenced by both education level and occupation. Patients with higher levels of education were more likely to follow their exercise routines, while individuals such as workers, retirees, and students demonstrated stronger adherence patterns (p = 0.002 and p = 0.019, respectively). In contrast, housewives and individuals with lower educational attainment were less likely to stay committed—often citing household responsibilities as a barrier to regular participation. Conclusion: Sticking to home-based exercise programs seems to make a real difference in outcomes, especially when it comes to reducing pain more quickly and effectively. These findings emphasize the importance of designing support systems that are tailored to the individual— possibly using technology to help patients stay on track, particularly in musculoskeletal rehabilitation.