While exercise therapies are advocated in osteoarthritis clinical guidelines, challenges associated with accessing exercise are prevalent. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of a self-directed physical activity program and strengthening exercise supported by improvement in knee pain and function for people with knee osteoarthritis (OA).
This participant-blinded and the assessor-blinded randomized trial included a total of 206 people who had knee OA and met the clinical criteria. The participants were assigned to two groups: the control group, in which they got access to the importance of physical activity and exercise, or the intervention group, in which they got access to the same information plus a prescription for a self-directed exercise regimen. The primary objective of the study was a change in overall knee pain and physical function.
Of 206 participants included in the study, 180 completed the primary outcomes. The findings suggested that participants in the intervention group demonstrated a greater improvement in overall knee pain and physical function compared with the control group. There was evidence for improvements in both knee pain and physical functionality.
The research concluded that self-directed, web-based physical activity program and strength exercise was associated with reduced knee pain and improved functionality in patients with knee OA.
Ref: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2778536?resultClick=1
