Effectiveness of supervised resistive exercise and home-based exercise training on lower limb muscle strength in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A long-term comparative study

Abstract

Twenty-six patients with knee OA (Kellgren & Lawrence grade 2 or 3), aged 53,86 ± 5,33 years participated in this study. All of the patients were informed about OA risk factors, pathogenesis, prognosis, modification of daily living activities during a 2-hour long patient education lecture. Participants were then assigned at random to one of two groups as home-based strength training group (HEG) (n ¼ 13) and resistive exercise training group (REG) (n ¼ 13). Both exercise programs include the same or similar exercises and aimed at increasing lower limb strength (hip, knee and ankle muscles). All subjects performed three months exercise training. The subjects in the HEG were given strength exercise training and instructed to perform the exercise program three times a week for three months at home. And also, they received one session monthly supervised exercise training for progression. Progression in exercise training obtained with elastic bant. The REG received a supervised program three times a week for three months at indoor resistive exercise station. Patients in both groups performed 10 minutes warm-up period and cool-down period. The strength of quadriceps femoris, hamstrings, hip abductors, hip adductors, and gastrocnemius muscles assessed by using handheld dynamometry by the same investigator. Muscle strength of participants was assessed at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks (follow-up).