PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - M E van Baar
AU  - J Dekker
AU  - R A B Oostendorp
AU  - D Bijl
AU  - Th B Voorn
AU  - J W J Bijlsma
TI  - Effectiveness of exercise in patients with osteoarthritis of hip or knee: nine months' follow up
AID  - 10.1136/ard.60.12.1123
DP  - 2001 Dec 01
TA  - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
PG  - 1123--1130
VI  - 60
IP  - 12
4099  - http://ard.bmj.com/content/60/12/1123.short
4100  - http://ard.bmj.com/content/60/12/1123.full
SO  - Ann Rheum Dis2001 Dec 01; 60
AB  - 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.