OBJECTIVE: To identify behaviour change techniques (BCTs) applied in interventions to enhance physical activity (PA) adherence in patients with chronic musculoskeletal conditions and to investigate the effectiveness of these interventions in increasing PA adherence. METHODS: A systematic search of seven databases was conducted. We included (cluster/quasi-) randomised controlled trials comparing behaviour change interventions to no/placebo/minimal interventions or usual care and involving at least a three-month post-intervention follow-up. Methodological quality was assessed, study characteristics and BCTs were narratively summarised and a meta-analysis was conducted. RESULTS: Across 22 included studies, we coded 8 to 18 BCTs (mean 11.2) in intervention and 0 to 12 (mean 3.5) in control groups. Common BCTs were "graded tasks", "goal setting", "self-monitoring", "problem solving" and "feedback". Meta-analyses of 17 studies revealed a small medium-term effect (3 to 6 months post-intervention, standardised mean difference (SMD) 0.20, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.33) and no long-term effect (7 to 12 months post-intervention, SMD 0.13, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.28). Subgroup analysis yielded a higher effect (SMD 0.29, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.40) for interventions using a greater number of BCTs. CONCLUSION: There is moderate quality evidence that interventions using BCTs are effective to enhance medium-term physical activity adherence. PRACTICE IMPLICATION: While superiority of single BCTs was not shown, it is likely that using more BCTs results in better adherence.
With permission from Excerpta Medica Inc.

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