Mills, Pauline M., McCarthy, C. J., Pullen, R., Roberts, C., Silman, A. and Oldham, J. A. (2004) Supplementing a home exercise programme with a class-based exercise programme is more effective than home exercise alone in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Rheumatology, 43 (7). pp. 880-886. ISSN 1460-2172
File not available for download.Abstract
Objective. The study aimed to compare the relative effectiveness of providing a home-based exercise programme versus home-based exercise supplemented with an 8-week class-based exercise programme in reducing pain and improving function in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods. Patients (n = 214) with radiologically confirmed knee osteoarthritis were selected. Patients were randomly allocated to either home or home supplemented with class-based exercise programmes. Both groups were given a home exercise programme whilst the supplemented group also attended for 8 weeks of twice weekly knee classes. Assessments of locomotor function, walking pain and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores were made. Assessments were made pre- and post-treatment and also at 6- and 12-month follow-ups. Statistical analysis involved the use of a longitudinal linear model ANCOVA with baseline values entered as a covariate. Results. Patients from the class-based group demonstrated significantly greater improvement in locomotor function (–3.7 seconds; 95% C.I. –4.9 to –2.5) and decrease in walking pain (–15 mm; 95% C.I. –20 to –11) than the home-based group, at 12-months follow-up. Conclusions. The supplementation of a home based exercise programme with a class-based exercise programme led to clinically significant superior improvement. These improvements were still evident at 12-month review. This is the first trial to evaluate this common physiotherapeutic practice, and based on this evidence, supplementation of home exercises with a class-based exercise programme can be recommended to patients, clinicians and service providers.
Impact and Reach
Statistics
Additional statistics for this dataset are available via IRStats2.