Exercise 'can help improve pain and function in osteoarthritis patients'

Patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis can gain potentially significant benefits from a programme of physical exercises, according to a new study from New Zealand.

Presented at the American College of Rheumatology annual meeting, the research suggested that osteoarthritis sufferers may improve their pain, stiffness and physical function with sustained exercise, manual therapy or both.

The researchers studied 206 osteoarthritis patients for two years to measure the efficacy of adding regular physical exercise, manual therapy or a combination of both to standard care, comparing this approach to continuing usual medical care for osteoarthritis alone.

After the trial period was completed, all the participants who engaged in some form of exercise showed significant improvements compared to those who stuck to usual therapy, suggesting this could be a beneficial form of intervention.

Lead author Haxby Abbott at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, said: "This study showed that benefits imparted by a comprehensive programme of exercise therapy or manual therapy, provided by physical therapists, remain significant to at least two years follow-up."

Existing evidence supports the effectiveness of exercise and manual therapy for easing hip and knee osteoarthritis symptoms and improving physical function. However, prior to this new study, no data existed to compare the addition of these treatment approaches to usual medical care, or for the long-term efficacy of this holistic approach.

Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease affecting middle-age and older people, and can lead to pain, swelling and progressive physical disability if left untreated.

A spokesman for Arthritis Research UK commented: "Physical activity, exercise and keeping moving are essential for people with osteoarthritis and in fact are the best ways of managing the condition and keeping pain and stiffness at bay. People who are carrying excess weight will also find that losing a few pounds will also make a difference to their symptoms."

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