Comparison between exercise therapy and non-hydrolyzed collagen (UC-II) in functionality and quality of life in women with knee osteoarthritis : Arandomized controlled clinical trial.

Abstract

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by aprogressive degeneration of cartilage and menisci, leading to pain and locomotor disability. Here, we aimed to assess the effect of an exercise protocol and the oral use of non-hydrolyzed collagen (UC-II) on the functionality and quality of life of women with knee OA. Individuals were divided into three groups (CG [control group]; MG [medication group]; EG [exercise group]). In the CG there was no intervention, while MG received an oral dose (1capsule/day) of UC-II and the EG held 12sessions of an exercise protocol. In the functionality tests (6-min walk test, 6MWT and timed up and go test [TUG]) the EG (p < 0.001/p = 0.020) and MG (p = 0.010/p = 0.010) revealed asignificant improvement when compared to the CG. In the analysis of quality of life by WOMAC, asignificant improvement was found only in the EG (p = 0.030) when compared to the CG; the same happened in the stiffness domain (EG, p = 0.010), despite in the pain domain, both the EG (p < 0.001) and the MG (p = 0.060) were better than the CG. Data obtained here reveal that an exercise protocol and UC-II have similar effects for functionality, despite exercise being superior in promoting the quality of life score.