Article
The effects of a physical training program on patients with osteoarthritis of the knees,☆☆,

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-9993(98)90238-6Get rights and content

Abstract

Objective: To investigate physical function in patients with severe osteoarthritis (OA) of the knees during and after a general physical training program.

Design: Randomized control trial, blinded observer, follow-up at 3 months and 1 year.

Setting: Outpatient clinic.

Patients: Consecutive sample of 25 patients (3 men, 22 women) with OA of the knees according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). Two patients (8%) failed to complete the study. There were no withdrawals for adverse effects.

Intervention: Twelve patients received training in groups of 6, twice a week for 3 months. Training focused on general fitness, balance, coordination, stretching, and lower extremity muscle strength, and included a daily home exercise program.

Main Outcome Measures: Muscle strength across the knee (extension and flexion), Algofunctional Index (AFI), pain (0 to 10 point scale), walking speed, clinical findings.

Results: Patients participated in 96 of 96 assessments (100%) and in 218 of 280 training sessions (77.9%). From baseline to 3 months, isokinetic quadriceps strength (30°/sec) improved 20% (confidence interval [CI] = .05, 8% to 50%) in the least affected leg; isometric strength improved 21%. By 1 year, AFI had decreased 3.8 points (CI = .05, 1.0 to 7.0), pain had decreased 2.0 points (CI - .05, 0.0 to 4.0), and walking speed had increased 13% (CI - .05, 4% to 23%). There was an increase in the frequency of palpable joint effusions (p < .01) on the most affected side. Frequency of crepitus decreased on the least affected side (p < .01).

Conclusions: General physical training appears to be beneficial to patients with OA of the knee. As shown by the high compliance and low dropout frequency, such a program is feasible even in patients with severe OA of the knee.

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    Supported by grants from Helsefonden and Kommunehospitalets Jublilæumsfond.

    ☆☆

    Presented in part at the Third International Congress of the Osteoarthritis Research Society, 7–9 June 1997, Singapore.

    No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the authors or upon any organization with which the authors are associated.

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