Effectiveness of exercise in patients with osteoarthritis of hip or knee: nine months' follow up
- aNetherlands Institute of Primary Health Care, Utrecht, The Netherlands, bInstitute of Research in Extramural Medicine, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, cDutch National Institute of Allied Health Professions, Amersfoort, The Netherlands, dDepartment of General Practice, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands, eDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Dr M E van Baar, Nivel, PO Box 1568, 3500 BN, Utrecht, The Netherlandsv.d.m.dehaas{at}kub.nl
- Accepted 23 April 2001
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine whether the effects of an exercise programme in patients with osteoarthritis of hip or knee are sustained at six and nine months' follow up.
METHODS A randomised, single blind, clinical trial was conducted in a primary care setting. Patients with osteoarthritis of hip or knee (ACR criteria) were selected. Two intervention groups were compared. Both groups received treatment from their general practitioner, including patient education and drug treatment if necessary. The experimental group also received exercise treatment from a physiotherapist in primary care. The treatment period was 12 weeks, with an ensuing 24 week follow up. The main outcome measures were pain, drug use (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), and observed disability.
RESULTS 201 patients were randomly allocated to the exercise or control group, and 183 patients completed the trial. At 24 weeks exercise treatment was associated with a small to moderate effect on pain during the past week (difference in change between the two groups −11.5 (95% CI −19.7 to −3.3). At 36 weeks no differences were found between the groups.
CONCLUSIONS Beneficial effects of exercise decline over time and finally disappear.
Footnotes
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Supported by a grant from the Dutch Fund of Investigative Medicine of the Dutch Health Insurance Council (OG92.066).
