Effect of an Educational Program Promoting Regular Physical Exercises in Subjects With Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an educational program emphasizing the regular practice of physical exercise on physical fitness, functional capacity and daily- living physical activity levels in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Two hundred and thirty-nine (239) patients in the public health system (male and female), with primary or secondary knee OA (degree I to IV in the Kelgreen and Lawrence scale), and with referral for OA clinical treatment were randomly allocated to intervention (IG; n = 112) and control groups (CG; n = 127). All subjects of both groups underwent assessment for physical fitness (six-minute-walking- tests), functional capacity (seat-to-stand, Up-and-Down-stairs and Timed-Up-and-Go tests) and daily-living physical activity (IPAQ short-version), before (pre), during (6-months) and after (12- months) the follow-up. Statistical analysis was performed with ANOVA two-way (group x time) with repeated measurements, Chi-square test and the Bonferroni’s t test. RESULTS: During six months of follow-up, the IG showed significant improvements (P < 0,05) in Up-and-Down-stairs (19%), seat-to-stand (30%) and Timed-Up-and-Go (32,5%) tests, as well as a reduction of Body Mass Index (BMI) (P < 0,05), which were maintained during the 12 months. There was also an increase in the percentage of self identified “actives” and “very actives” subjects and reduction in the percentage of sedentary subjects in the IG during follow-up (P < 0,05). The CG improved only the Up-and-Down-stairs tests during the 6-months (12%, P < 0,05), but the improvement was not maintained during the 12 months follow-up. There was also an increase in the percentage of very actives subjects in GC, however, this increase was lower than that was observed in the IG. There were no significant improvements on muscular capacity, aerobic capacity and flexibility during the 12-months follow-up in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that an educational program promoting the regular practice of physical exercise may be an effective tool for improving functional capacity in patients with knee OA.