The Effects of an Exercise Program for Older Adults with Osteoarthritis of the Hip

ERWIN TAK, PATRICIA STAATS, ARIËTTE VAN HESPEN, and MARIJKE HOPMAN-ROCK

ABSTRACT.

Objective. Evaluation of an 8-week exercise program with strength training and lifestyle advice for older adults with osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip. Outcome measures were pain, hip function, disability, quality of life (QOL), and body mass index (BMI).

Methods. Inclusion criteria for this randomized controlled trial were: age ≥ 55 years, clinical diagnosis of OA according to American College of Rheumatology criteria, and living independently. Interview and physical data were collected at baseline, post-test, and followup (3 mo) by trained interviewers and physical therapists with validated instruments: Harris Hip Score, Sickness Impact Profile, Groningen Activity Restriction Scale, functional tests (walking, timed Up & Go, ascending and descending stairs, and toe reaching), and visual analog scales (pain and QOL). Data were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis. Effect sizes were calculated.

Results. There were 109 participants (55 experimental, 54 controls). The 15 participants who dropped out were characterized by less tolerance to pain and younger age. The program had a positive effect on pain (moderate effect at post-test and small effect at followup), hip function (small effect at post-test), self-reported disability (small effect at followup), and the timed Up & Go test (small effect at followup). It did not affect QOL, other measures of observed disability, or BMI.

Conclusion. The exercise program had positive effects on pain and hip function, which are important mediators of disability. This study fulfilled a need for older adults with hip OA and provides evidence of the benefit of exercise in the management of hip OA. (J Rheumatol 2005;32:1106-13)

Key Indexing Terms:

RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL
OSTEOARTHRITIS
HIP
AGED
EXERCISE PROGRAM

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From TNO Prevention and Health, Department of Physical Activity and Health, Leiden, The Netherlands; and Body@Work, Research Center Physical Activity, Work and Health, TNO-VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Supported by a grant from The Netherlands Health Research and Development Council (Preaventiefonds).

E.C.P.M. Tak, MA, Psychologist; P.G.M. Staats, MA, Social Gerontologist; A.T.H. van Hespen, Physical Therapist, TNO; M. Hopman-Rock, PhD, Epidemiologist, Psychologist, Biologist, TNO, Body@Work.

Address reprint requests to E. Tak, TNO Prevention and Health, Department of Physical Activity, PO Box 2215, 2301 CE Leiden, The Netherlands. E-mail: ecpm.tak@pg.tno.nl

Accepted for publication December 30, 2004.

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