Effects of an eight-week training programme on pain relief and physical condition of overweight and obese women with early stage primary knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

Osteoarthritis is the most common and symptomatic health problem for many middle-aged and elderly individuals and is especially common in females and overweight and obese individuals, particularly at the weight-bearing joints such as the knee. This study aimed at determining the effect of progressive and combined resistance and aerobic exercise on early primary knee osteoarthritis in overweight and obese, middle-aged and elderly females. Sixteen overweight and obese Asian females (50-64 years) with primary stages I and II knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to either an eight-week intervention (n = 8) or non-exercising control group (n = 8) and assessed in line with the requirements of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International Committee in terms of pain, physical function, strength and cardiorespiratory endurance. The intervention programme resulted in significant (p . 0.05) improvements in pain and physical function score, knee extensor concentric peak torque at 120 and 180 ./seconds and six-minute walking distance. The study concludes that progressive combined resistance and aerobic exercises can impact positively on early stage primary knee osteoarthritis in middle-aged and elderly, overweight and obese females.