Effect of Exercise Rehabilitation Programme on Clinical Health Status of Osteoarthritis Knee Patients

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common rheumatological disorder. It is a degenerative joint disorder characterized by destruction of articular cartilage and formation of a new bone at the joint surfaces. Its onset is usually in older age group. Both men and women are affected, but symptoms in women occur earlier and appear to be more severe than in men. Knee joint is the most commonly affected region of the body. Predominant feature is pain along with decrease in the range of motion. One of the worst things about OA is its negative effect on the quality of life. The aim of this study is to find out prevalence of OA knee in different age groups & in different sexes and effect of exercise rehabilitation program on pain, range of motion, strength, cardiovascular fitness and functional level of patients with OA knee.

A group of 200 patients of established osteoarthritis of knee ranging in age from 40–65 years were included in the study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: Group A (Experimental Control Group, n=100) and Group B (Experimental Group, n=100). Patients of experimental control group were treated with conventional physiotherapy program and patients of experimental group were treated both with conventional physiotherapy program and exercise rehabilitation program which includes mild intensity long duration exercise program. Both the groups were treated for two months. Following parameters were assessed at the start of exercise rehabilitation program, in the middle (after 1 month) of the study and at the end (after 2 months) of exercise rehabilitation program: Weight, BMI, pulse, HR, B P, pain, range of motion, strength of muscles, cardiovascular fitness & functional level.

The results showed that there is a frequency of 15.5%, 46% & 38.5% of osteoarthritis knee patients in the age group of 40–50 years, 51–60 & > 60 years respectively and prevalence in males & females is 31% & 69% respectively. The mean values of weight & BMI at 0 month was 71.81 ± 6.62 and 27.65 ± 2.47 (in males) and 73.24 ± 6.32 and 28.06 ± 3.33 (in females) which was reduced to 63.00 ± 7.07 and 24.24 ± 2.49 (in males) and 63.37 ± 6.15 and 24.26 ± 2.91 (in females) after 2 months of exercise rehabilitation program. There is significant reduction in level of pain whereas range of motion, strength, cardiovascular fitness and functional level were improved significantly.

It is concluded that exercise rehabilitation program which includes mild intensity long duration exercise program causes significant decrease in weight & BMI in knee OA patients along with reduction in level of pain whereas range of motion, strength, cardiovascular fitness and functional level were improved.