The influence of sport participation on physical function in patients with osteoarthritis during and after exercise therapy

Abstract

Introduction: The objectives of this study were to investigate 1) in which sports activities patients with osteoarthritis (OA) participate, 2) the cross sectional differences in functional outcome between sports participants and nonsports participants and 3) the influence of regular sports participation on the effectiveness of exercise therapy with respect to physical function. Methods: A prospective observational follow-up study was performed investigating the influence of sport participation on patients’ outcome. Data were obtained from a single blinded randomized controlled trial comparing two different exercise therapy interventions in 200 patients with hip and knee OA. At baseline, after 3 and 15 months, primary (self-reported physical function) and secondary patient outcome and sport participation were obtained. Patients were defined as sports participants when they performed a sport activity for at least 60 minutes per week at the time of assessment (regardless the kind and intensity of the sport activity) or as non-sports participants when they did not perform a sport activity for at least 60 minutes per week. Patients were defined as regular sports participants if they participated in sports activities at two out of three assessment moments. Results: Thirty-eight percent of the patients with OA participated in 11 different sports activities. Sports participants had a higher level of physical function at baseline, 3 and 15 months’ assessments. Physical function improved significantly within both the regular sports participants SP and the non-regular sports participants at 3 and 15 months’ assessments. However, the regular group improved significantly more compared to the non-regular group. Conclusion: A minority of patients with OA participated in sports activities. The sports activities in which they participated had a moderate to vigorous intensity. The influence of participation in sports activities on physical function and the effect of exercise therapy seems positive. The influence of sports participation on physical function and the effect of exercise therapy seems positive within patients who underwent an exercise therapy intervention. Therefore, we confirm the opinion that patients with OA should continue participating in sports which do not provoke their pain, as well as that patients with OA should be stimulated to participate in sports activities.