Managing Knee Osteoarthritis: The Effects of Body Weight Supported Physical Activity on Joint Pain, Function, and Thigh Muscle Strength.
Study Goal
To determine the effect of a 12-week LBPP-supported low-load treadmill walking program on knee joint pain, function, and thigh muscle strength in overweight patients with knee osteoarthritis.
Results Summary
Participants reported significant improvements in knee joint pain and function, demonstrated increased thigh muscle strength, and required less LBPP support to walk pain-free. The regimen effectively reduced acute knee pain during walking and improved daily joint symptoms.
Population
Overweight patients aged 55-75 with mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis (BMI ≥25 kg/m).
Effective Dosage
LBPP-supported low-load treadmill walking (specific frequency not detailed).
Duration
12 weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
12-week LBPP-supported low-load treadmill walking regimen | decrease | knee joint pain and function | overweight patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) | - | significant improvements | #1 |
12-week LBPP-supported low-load treadmill walking regimen | increase | thigh muscle strength about the degenerative knee | overweight patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) | - | significant increases | #2 |
12-week LBPP-supported low-load treadmill walking regimen | decrease | acute knee pain during full weight bearing treadmill walking | overweight patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) | - | significant reductions | #3 |
12-week LBPP-supported low-load treadmill walking regimen | decrease | LBPP support to walk pain free on the treadmill | overweight patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) | - | dramatically less | #4 |
LBPP-supported low-load exercise regimen | decrease | knee pain | overweight patients with knee OA | - | significantly diminish | #5 |
LBPP-supported low-load exercise regimen | increase | joint function | overweight patients with knee OA | - | enhance | #6 |
LBPP-supported low-load exercise regimen | increase | thigh muscle strength | overweight patients with knee OA | - | increase | #7 |
LBPP-supported low-load exercise regimen | increase | pain-free walking exercise | overweight patients with knee OA | - | safely promoting | #8 |
LBPP-supported low-load walking | increase | the physical health, quality of life, and social well-being | North America's aging population | - | helping to improve | #9 |
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of a 12-week lower body positive pressure (LBPP)-supported low-load treadmill walking program on knee joint pain, function, and thigh muscle strength in overweight patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). DESIGN: Prospective, observational, repeated measures investigation. SETTING: Community-based, multidisciplinary sports medicine clinic. PATIENTS: Thirty-one patients aged between 55 and 75 years, with a body mass index ≥25 kg/m and mild-to-moderate knee OA. INTERVENTION: Twelve-week LBPP-supported low-load treadmill walking regimen. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Acute knee joint pain (visual analog scale) during full weight bearing treadmill walking, chronic knee pain, and joint function [Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) questionnaire] during normal activities of daily living, and thigh muscle strength (isokinetic testing). Appropriate methods of statistical analysis were used to compare data from baseline and follow-up evaluation. RESULTS: Participants reported significant improvements in knee joint pain and function and demonstrated significant increases in thigh muscle strength about the degenerative knee. Participants also experienced significant reductions in acute knee pain during full weight bearing treadmill walking and required dramatically less LBPP support to walk pain free on the treadmill. CONCLUSIONS: Data suggest that an LBPP-supported low-load exercise regimen can be used to significantly diminish knee pain, enhance joint function, and increase thigh muscle strength, while safely promoting pain-free walking exercise in overweight patients with knee OA. These findings have important implications for the development of nonoperative treatment strategies that can be used in the management of joint symptoms associated with progressive knee OA in at-risk patient populations. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This research suggests that LBPP-supported low-load walking is a safe user-friendly mode of exercise that can be successfully used in the management of day-to-day joint symptoms associated with knee OA, helping to improve the physical health, quality of life, and social well-being of North America's aging population.