Exercise type, adherence and dosage of a muscle strength training program for patients with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis

• Main Authors: May Arna Risberg, Guro Holth, Britt Elin Øiestad
• Format: Article
• Language: Danish
• Published: Norwegian Physiotherapist Association 2019-12-01
• Series: Fysioterapeuten
• Subjects: knee osteoarthritis; adherence; progression; strength training; rehabilitation
• Online Access: https://fysioterapeuten.no/Fag-og-vitenskap/Fagartikler/Styrketreningsprogram-for-kneartrosepasienter-Hva-er-adekvat-dosering-for-aa-oppnaa-effekt-av-behandling
• ISSN: 0016-3384; 0807-9277

Purpose: Describe types, adherence, and dosage of exercises and outcomes for a strength-training program in patients with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis. Design: Pre-post design. Material: Fifty-two patients between 35 and 70 years with mild to moderate symptomatic knee osteoarthritis were included. Methods: A 12-week strength-training program including training diaries was implemented. The following outcome measures were used: isokinetic quadriceps muscle strength test, the Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), the Numeric rating Scale (NRS) for pain, global rating of change in function (GRC) and the self-reported questionnaire for physical activity. Results: A mean of 7.9 ±3.6 and 12.5±3.3 for neuromuscular- and strength exercises, respectively, were performed per week. Seventy-three percent of the patients completed ≥80% of the exercise sessions. There was a mean increase of 36±25% in resistance for leg extension exercise during the leg extension exercise during the 12-week program. But only 18% achieved a change above a minimal detectable change for quadriceps muscle strength. Sixty-seven percent reported a change in function (GRC) and 22% a reduction in pain (NRS). Conclusion: This 12-week strength-training program had satisfactory adherence, but the doses were probably too low to gain clinical relevant changes in quadriceps muscle strength and in patient reported outcomes.