As I was looking around for arthritis related topics to blog on, I came upon an interesting study that looked at two different activities and their effect on symptoms of OA.
The study done in 2007 ran a 12 week test, with a 12 week follow up, on 152 elderly sufferers of osteoarthritis of the hip or knee. Subjects needed to be about 70 years of age and classified as inactive. 55 subjects were placed in a 12 week hydrotherapy class, 56 subjects were placed in a 12 week Tai Chi course and, 41 were placed in a control (wait list). Each session was 1 hour long and held twice a week, making a total of 24 classes.
Results showed a decrease in joint pain for patients in both hydrotherapy and Tai Chi groups based on the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores. Physical function also improved in these two groups and was tested using the "Up and Go" test, 50-foot walk time, and timed stair climb. The "Up and Go test" is a measure of a patient's ability to get up out of a chair without arm support, walk several paces out and back, and sit back down without arm support. These improvements were sustained by most subjects for an additional 12 weeks after the classes.
http://www.arthritiswa.org.au/documents/PAFORMmainresultsACR.pdf
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So, after reading this post I wanted more information about the WOMAC index used. WOMAC stands for the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index. It was originally developed for people with OA of the hip or knee as a means of clinically evaluating the patient to mark changes during interventions. WOMAC evaluates three dimensions: pain, stiffness and physical functions using 5, 2 and 17 questions respectively. This questionnaire is self-administered and should take 5-10 minutes. Each question is ranked on a scale of 0-4 (lower scores indicate lower symptoms or physical disability). This means that a maximum of 20, 8 and 68 can be achieved in each subsection with a maximum total score of 96. The scores can then be summated and standardized among the members of the study to evaluate changes from pre to post intervention.
ReplyDeleteI feel that this is a good means for researchers and clinicians to evaluate their patients with OA. However, as with any pain assessment it is very subjective. Although, it is convenient that the scores are able to be standardized among a sample population and changes evaluated.
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/85515159/abstract
https://www.cebp.nl/vault_public/filesystem/?ID=1482
A couple of ideas sprung to my head as I read this. First, would the effect be as great if the participants had been active individuals and are there other light exercises that could also be used and equally effective? Also are there any exercises for people with arthritic hands that would help relieve some of their symptoms? I thought this was interesting though because I have dealt with stiff joint issues due to over-activity, obviously no where near the severity of RA, and I know for a fact that a simple soaking in the tub usually helped me out immensely; so it is cool to see that this avenue is being explored as a general treatment option.
ReplyDeleteAfter I read all of your posts, I decided to look more into the treatment of arthritis with exercise. It was actually thought for many years that if you had arthritis, you should not exercise because it would damage your joints. Nowdays, however, research has shown that exercise is an essential tool in managing arthritis. Exercise has alot of benefits to people with arthritis. It reduces joint pain and stiffness, can build strong muscle around the joints, and can increase flexibility and endurance. Aquatic excercise is a much more ideal choice of exercise,recommended for those with pain. In the water your body's buoyancy reduces stress on your hips, knees, and spine while building strength and increasing range of motion. The Arthritis Foundation provided a great example of either water walking or water jogging. Being in the water provides 12 times the resistance of air, so you’re getting a great workout without the wear and tear on your joints!
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