A comprehensive study of Functional Performance and Physical activity improvements in women with knee osteoarthritis through therapeutic exercises
Keywords:
Knee osteoarthritis, therapeutic exercise, functional performance, physical activity, women’s healthAbstract
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is one of the common conditions that lead to functional limitations in activities, and a disability in women, with considerable impact on quality of life. Therapuetic exercises intervention has been used in the management of KOA which led to this study with the following objectives; To assess the effects of therapeutic exercises on functional performance and physical activity in women with KOA. Using pre-post non-equivalent control group quasi-experimental research design one hundred women aged 40- 65 with clinically diagnosed KOA were selected and randomly assigned into intervention and control groups. The intervention group and the non-intervention group engaged in a scheduled therapeutic exercises regimen for 12 weeks incorporating strength training, aerobic and flexibility exercises while the control group was on standard medical treatment. Functional performance was established using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS); physical activity levels by step count from accelerometers and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Data analysis in the present study including paired and independent t-tests, ANCOVA as well as calculating the effect size supported the observed improvements in the intervention group as compared to the control group. Some of the results include a reduction in TUG test times to by 25% (p < 0.01) in the intervention group, an increase in KOOS scores by 30% (p < 0.01), and an increase in the average daily step by 40% (p < 0.01). These outcomes show that efficacy of therapeutic exercises in interventions aimed at improving functional mobility, decreasing pain, and encouraging an active way of life. In conclusion, therapeutic exercises is a cost effective and low technological interventional strategy for enhancing functional performance and physical activity in women with KOA. This underpins the need for implementation of such programs as part of the primary care management of KOA for its sustainable management with improved patients’ outcome. Long term adherence and the effects of psychosocial factors on exercises interventions should be examined for in future research.
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