Therapeutic Exercise for Osteoarthritis

Question: Therapeutic Exercise for Osteoarthritis

Therapeutic exercise is recommended as part of any treatment regimen for osteoarthritis. The goal of therapeutic exercise is to improve physical function and reduce pain and disability for osteoarthritis patients.

Which type of therapeutic exercise is most effective?

Answer:

Therapeutic Exercise Benefits Osteoarthritis Patients

Aquatic exercise, functional exercise, and aerobic exercise are types of therapeutic exercise that can help osteoarthritis patients achieve their goals of reducing pain and disability while improving physical function.

• Aquatic / Water Exercise Helps Osteoarthritis Patients
• Functional Exercise / Functional Strength Training
• Aerobic Exercise Defined

High-Intensity Versus Low-Intensity Exercise

Does the level of exercise matter? Is high-intensity exercise more effective than low-intensity exercise? A Cochrane Review took on the question and compared controlled clinical trials that met specific criteria. One of the studies involved 39 study participants and concluded that there was no significant difference between high- and low-intensity aerobic exercise on patients with knee osteoarthritis in terms of function, gait, pain, and aerobic capacity. Both high- and low-intensity aerobic exercise appeared equally effective for improving function, gait, pain, and aerobic capacity.

Equal Benefit Means "Just Do It"

Patients should not use their inability to perform high intensity aerobic exercise as an excuse not to exercise. Equal benefit can be derived from low-intensity aerobic exercise.

_Source:

_{Intensity of exercise for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Cochrane Review. Brosseau L., et al.}