The centre‐based programme
home‐based, pain
HEAT, COLD
The centre‐based programme was delivered face to face, twice a week, for 8 weeks. Each session lasted for 45 min, with 15 participants in each session. MMEP and knowledge of pain and pain management were delivered in each session. The first 30 min of each session consisted of warm‐up and breathing exercises, strengthening and stretching exercises and music‐with‐movement exercises. Participants chose one to two songs from the five on the list and engaged in movement and exercise with a trained research assistant. The music therapist introduced music‐with‐movement exercise and taught participants relevant skills. Exercises included chair exercise, balance training, flexibility training and transfer training. The music therapist went through all the music‐with‐movement exercises again to reinforce the knowledge of the participants.The last 10 min of the session involved knowledge on pain and pain management delivered by a trained research assistant. Participants learned about the advantages of exercise, the definition of pain, physical and psychological effects of pain, pharmacological interventions and non‐pharmacological interventions for managing pain, including music therapy, deep breathing aromatherapy and the application of heat and cold pads. Make‐up sessions were arranged for those who were unable to attend any of the scheduled face‐to‐face sessions.The home‐based and digital‐based activities were delivered via a WhatsApp group over the 8 weeks. Participants received an exercise logbook in the first centre‐based face‐to‐face session. The logbook contained a graphic step‐by‐step guide of the music‐with‐movement exercise and a record sheet for participants to record the frequency with which they practiced the programme. Participants were encouraged to practice the MMEP for 30 min at least twice a week at home. They were given the five songs and videos of the physical exercises they have learned in class via WhatsApp. The research assistant sent reminders to the participants via WhatsApp twice a week to encourage and remind them to practice MMEP at home.