Study: Osteoarthritis Patients Can Benefit from Much Higher Intensity Exercise

Patients with osteoarthritis would benefit from much higher intensity exercise than is currently recommended, according to a study reported in the December issue of the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases.

The study involved over 100 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee or hip who were randomly assigned to three different programs lasting for six weeks. All were over 50, with the average age being 70.

One group exercised three times a week in a swimming pool, while a second group performed equivalent exercise in a gym. The rest of the participants did not exercise, but received calls from providers every two weeks to monitor their condition. Both the water and gym programs focused on resistance exercises.

The intensity, volume and frequency of exercising were considerably higher in the two exercise groups than current recommendations and the normal exercise program offered by the hospital at which the patients were being treated.

Walking speed and distance improved significantly in both exercise groups compared with the group taking no exercise. While the group that exercised in the gym significantly increased the strength of their thigh muscles in both legs, the group that exercised in the water improved the strength of the left thigh muscle only.

Pain eased considerably in the water exercise group, whose symptoms had been worse to start with.

Improving the ability of patients to walk increases and maintains their independence, while increasing their muscle strength around affected joints helps prevent further deterioration, according to the researchers at Flinders University in Australia.

The researchers concluded that higher intensity exercise can safely be prescribed for patients with osteoarthritis and water exercise increases cardiovascular fitness and allows patients to exercise with greater intensity than would be possible on land.

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 2003; 62: 1162-7