Physical Therapy Classes Better Than Home-Based Program for...

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Physical Therapy Classes Better Than Home-Based Program for Knee Rehab

BRIGHTON, UK (Reuters Health) Apr 24 - Physiotherapy exercises for knee

treatment are more effective in organised classes than at home, according

data presented at the British Society for Rheumatology Annual General

Meeting here on Wednesday.

Knee osteoarthritis is the most common cause of disability in people aged

65 and over, yet the way physiotherapy is administered has not been given

enough evaluation, according to findings from the School of Physiotherapy

at Manchester University.

" People who turn up at an osteoarthritis department will be given either

home exercises or class exercises, but until now nobody has looked at

which is more beneficial, or why, " explained Dr. J. McCarthy,

research physiotherapist at Manchester University and lead author of the

report.

The study involved 214 patients with knee osteoarthritis, of whom 111

were randomised to home exercise supplemented by class exercises and 103

to home exercises alone. Although those who attended classes had more

contact time with a physiotherapist, all patients did the same amount and

the same type of exercise each week.

Those who attended classes had a greater reduction in pain than those who

exercised at home, according to scores based on a visual analogue pain

scale-- 3.7 versus 5.6, (p < 0.001) after 8 weeks and 4.3 versus 5.5, (p

< 0.001) after 6 months.

There was also a greater improvement in knee function in those who

attended classes according to aggregated functional score.

Dr. McCarthy said that the class exercises were probably more intense,

which might explain why they were more beneficial. There was more peer

support in the class group, which helped reduce anxiety, and participants

were more likely to believe the exercises were going to work.

" The results also show that there was a deterioration after 6 months. I'm

hoping that this study will not only encourage doctors to recommend

physiotherapy classes, but will also see that a prolonged exercise

programme would be beneficial, " Dr. McCarthy told Reuters Health.

" Physiotherapy classes have really gone out of fashion. Maybe we will see

a revival after this study, " he added.