Results from a home based exercise protocol to elderly people with Osteoarthritis

• Author(s): Pinheira, Vítor ; Gonçalves, Bárbara ; Pereira, Sara ; Rodrigues, Abel ; Gonçalves, Rui
• Date: 2014
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.11/2467
• Origin: Repositório Científico do Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco
• Subject(s): Home-based exercise program; Elderly; Mobility; Physiotherapy
• Document Type: Conference Object
• Language: English

Description

Introduction: Osteoarthritis is one of the most commom problems in elderly populations and the most commom cause of disability. Knee is one of the most affected joint and the loss of range of motion and function will limit daily activities and the mobility. Self-management programs with exercises performed at home may be a useful therapy. These programs are based on the quadriceps strengthening exercises, low aerobic strength in order to improve the functional state, pain and aerobic capacity. Objectives: Evaluate the effectiveness of an exercise protocol performed at home on improving the functionality, mobility and health related quality of life of elderly people with knee osteoarthritis. Materials and Methods: Exploratory, descriptive and longitudinal study. 44 subjects have been selected according to the inclusion criteria (age ¡Ý 65 years with symptoms of knee osteoarthritis) and exclusion (inability to perform gait, hip osteoarthritis and prosthetics hip or knee). The subjects made an initial assessment (T0) before beginning the protocol (applied during 8 weeks, daily, in the summer of 2013) performed at home and meeting occasionally in groups, with the researcher, to correct the learned exercises, clarify questions and add some exercises or progressions. After the 8 weeks was applied an new assessment (T1) and the follow-up is taken in T2 and T3, (respectively, at 3 and 6 months later). In the assessment was used the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) and the SF-12. Data from changes in daily routine of the subjects are also collected. The protocol was applied by two physical therapists. Results: Between T0 and T1 the subjects present better results in the analyzed variables. Between T1 and T2, these improvement appear be related with the maintenance of the protocol. Conclusion: An home based exercise protocol to elderly people with osteoarthritis revealed results in mobility. The maintenance of the results is related with the continuity of the protocol and with changes in the daily activities.