Abstract
BackgroundsFew reports have explored the extent to which physical activity is affected by pain severity in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients. We used national representative data to investigate the physical activity of KOA patients compared to the general population to determine what proportion of patients met physical activity recommendations and to explore how the proportion changes with pain severity.MethodsWe used data from the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V; 2010–2012). In total, 1279 participants aged ≥50 years who had radiographic KOA and who evaluated knee pain on a numerical rating scale were selected. KOA was assessed using the Kellgren–Lawrence system. The Korean short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to measure physical activity status. We used the physical activity recommendations of the American College of Rheumatology Work Group Panel when evaluating the extent of activity in KOA patients.ResultsOnly 18.6% of KOA patients met the osteoarthritis expert panel recommendations, lower than in the general population (23.2%; p = 0.003). The percentages that met the recommendations in the none to mild pain group, moderate pain group, and severe pain group were 23.4%, 17.6%, and 18.3%, respectively (p = 0.341). In terms of flexibility, a somewhat higher percentage of those with moderate pain engaged in physical activity compared to those with little or no pain (17.1% vs. 12.3%), but the difference was not significant (p = 0.585).ConclusionsRegardless of pain severity, overall physical activity was suboptimal in Korean KOA patients. It is important to emphasize to osteoarthritis patients in clinical settings the need for physical activity, and a policy-based effort is required to facilitate appropriate exercise.
Highlights
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a degenerative joint disease that is common in the elderly; it affects younger people [1]
We aimed to 1) investigate the levels of physical activity among KOA patients compared to the general population, 2) determine the proportion of KOA patients who meet the physical activity recommendations, and 3) examine how the proportion changes with pain severity among KOA patients, by using data from a nationally representative Korean population
One meta-analysis found that the proportion of osteoarthritis patients who met the recommendation of ≥150 min per week of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in bouts of ≥10 min was only 13% and that the proportion of those who met the recommendation of at least 10,000 steps per day was 19% [13], which were suboptimal proportions, as our study showed
Summary
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a degenerative joint disease that is common in the elderly; it affects younger people [1]. KOA symptoms can limit physical activity and cause debilitating pain [1]. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 13–15% of adults aged over 55 years have KOA worldwide [2]. In Korea, because of the rapid aging of the population, it is expected that the burden of disease caused by osteoarthritis will increase, and care and Considerable evidence suggests that physical activity can improve physical function [6, 7], reduce pain, and improve patient-reported disabilities [6, 7]. Several different guidelines emphasize the importance of physical activity. The Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) document [8] recommends land- or water-based exercise and strength training as appropriate, and the
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