Home Exercise Program May Not Improve Osteoarthritis

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Home Exercise Program May Not Improve Osteoarthritis

Mon May 17, 2004 03:28 PM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Doctors often advise people with osteoarthritis

to keep a diary of their symptoms and to perform exercises at home, but

neither of these approaches seemed to improve symptoms in a new study.

However, people who were advised to exercise were the most likely to be

satisfied with their medical care.

The results of the study do not mean that people with arthritis should not

exercise, the study's authors caution.

Dr. Maxime Dougados at Hopital Cochin in Paris and colleagues point out that

regular exercise has other benefits, such as preventing obesity. The

researchers also note that other studies have shown that exercise reduces

arthritis pain and disability.

The study included nearly 3,000 people with osteoarthritis of the knee or

hip. Participants were told to keep a weekly diary of their arthritis

symptoms, to perform a series of exercises at home or both. Another group of

participants did not keep a diary or perform the special exercises.

Everyone in the study was taking the anti-inflammatory drug rofecoxib.

At the end of the 24-week study, arthritis symptoms improved in all groups.

In fact, there was no statistically significant difference between the

groups.

Despite the lack of difference between the groups, patients who had

performed the exercises, either with or without keeping a diary, were more

likely to be satisfied that their rheumatologist had done the best job

possible to improve their function than people who were not assigned to

exercise therapy.

The results appear in the June issue of the journal ls of the Rheumatic

Diseases.

One difference between this study and earlier research is that most other

studies of exercise therapy and arthritis included supervised, not at-home,

exercise programs. Many of the participants in the current study did not

meet the goals of the exercise program.

Another factor is that everyone in the study was taking an anti-inflammatory

drug to treat their arthritis.

It may be possible to improve exercise programs by simplifying them,

according to the report. For instance, people with arthritis could be

encouraged to walk for exercise rather than to perform specific exercises.

Another option, the researchers suggest, is to increase the supervision of

exercise by nurses or other therapists.

The study was funded by Merck Sharp & Dohme, Chibret, France.

SOURCE: ls of the Rheumatic Diseases, June 2004.

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