Study: Knee Osteoarthritis Patients Need to Exercise Despite Pain

Patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis need to exercise to maintain their muscle strength despite the pain exercise may cause, according to researchers at the Netherlands Institute of Health Services Research Center in Utrecht.

Maintenance of muscle strength plays a key role in helping knee osteoarthritis patients cope with their condition, said the report published in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism.

"Avoidance of activity is hypothesized to lead to muscle weakness and consequently, to physical disability," wrote the researchers. "This study was undertaken to validate the avoidance model by providing evidence for the mediating role of muscle weakness in the relationship between avoidance of activity and physical disability in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee."

The study of 107 patients (average age 68.7) confirmed the association between lack of activity and progressive physical deterioration in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.

The muscle strength and level of disability of the patients was measured with a series of exercises. Patients were asked about their avoidance of exercise, ranging from taking frequent breaks to ceasing exercise completely.

Most of the patients in the study tended to avoid physical activity due to their fear of pain or an actual increase in pain. Although avoiding exercise reduced pain for a short time, the physical condition of the patient then deteriorated, with muscle weakness leading to joint weakness and a reduction of mobility and muscle strength. The muscle weakness and reduction in mobility then caused more avoidance of exercise.

"The results of this study provide evidence for the mediating role of muscle weakness in the relationship between avoidance of activity and disability in patients with knee osteoarthritis," concluded the researchers.

Other sources: Arthritis and Rheumatism