A low-cost exercise program run by Hospital for Special Surgery in
New York City has significantly improved pain, function and quality of life in
participants with osteoarthritis, according to new research.
The study adds to the growing evidence that exercise is beneficial
for osteoarthritis and shows that a hospital-based program can work. The study
will be reported at the annual meeting of the American College of
Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals (ACR/ARHP), to be
held Nov. 9-14, in Washington D.C.
The new study showed that the weekly exercise programs
significantly improved enjoyment of life and balance, and decreased pain and
the severity and frequency of falls. "When participants were asked to
report their level of pain severity, there were statistically significant
reductions in pain from pre- to post-test. Pain is a huge factor in quality of
life," said Sandra Goldsmith, director of the Public and Patient Education
Department at Hospital for Special Surgery. "If we can offer classes that
help to reduce pain, that is a good thing."
Roughly ten years ago, HSS launched its Osteoarthritis Wellness
Initiative, which has grown to encompass both an educational component,
including lectures and workshops, as well as exercise classes. In the study to
be presented at the recent ACR/ARHP meeting, Special Surgery researchers
evaluated the effectiveness of the exercise programs on 200 participants.
The classes, which met weekly throughout the year, included Tai
Chi, yoga, mat and chair pilates, yoga-lates and dance fitness. Instructors who
could tailor exercises for those with osteoarthritis and other musculoskeletal
issues supervised the exercise programs. The researchers analyzed results from
surveys that were administered before and after the exercise programs. The
surveys included measures of self-reported pain, balance, falls and level of
physical activity. An 11-point numeric pain intensity scale was used to
quantify intensity of muscle or joint pain. The 10-point Brief Pain Inventory
was used to measure pain interference on aspects of quality of life, including
general activity, mood, walking ability, sleep, normal work (both outside the
home and housework), and enjoyment of life.
In the sample of 200 participants, roughly 53% indicated that they
experienced pain relief as a result of participating in the exercise programs.
In fact, when researchers analyzed the subset of 66 participants who completed
both pre and post surveys, a larger proportion, 62%, indicated they experienced
pain relief after participating in the exercise programs. The level of pain
intensity that participants experienced also significantly dropped from 4.5 to
2.7 in this group, where 0 was no pain and 10 was the worst pain imaginable.
When researchers compared participants' estimation of how much pain interfered
with various aspects of an individual's life, they identified a 54% improvement
in general activity, mood, walking ability, sleep, normal work, and enjoyment
of life.
"We asked participants to rate their balance, and we found a
statistically significant increase in those who rated their balance as
excellent, very good or good, from pre- to post-intervention, " said Dana
Friedman, MPH, outcomes manager in the HSS Public and Patient Education
Department. Fewer respondents reported falling from pre- to post-test (14.5%
vs. 13.1%), as well as sustaining injuries that required hospitalization (12.1%
vs. 10.6%).
Linda Russell, M.D., a rheumatologist at HSS who is chair of the
Public and Patient Education Advisory Committee, points out that the classes are
low cost for patients and the fees cover the majority of costs associated with
offering these types of programs, including salaries for the instructors.
"We like to get all of our patients involved in exercise, and if we can
help with a low-cost alternative to exercising in New York City, because gyms
are expensive, then it is wonderful," said Dr. Russell. "Patients
benefit from supervised exercise programs with regard to their overall sense of
well-being and pain due to their arthritis. We encourage other institutions to
launch these types of program."
"We'd like to be a role model for other hospitals, showing
them that offering this type of program can help their patients reduce pain and
improve quality of life," said Ms. Goldsmith. "We are willing to discuss
the details about how to start these programs."
All exercise programs were run through the HSS Public and Patient
Education Department, which includes the Greenberg Academy for Successful
Aging, a collaborative program between the HSS Public and Patient Education
Department and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital's Irving Sherwood Wright Center
for the Aging.
Osteoarthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United
States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an
estimated 50 million U.S. adults, 22% of the population, suffered from
osteoarthritis in 2009, compared with 46 million in 2003-2005. Arthritis
affected the daily activities of 21 million adults in 2009. Body mass index
influences the prevalence of arthritis; 29.6% of obese adults have arthritis.
Other Hospital for Special Surgery authors involved in the study
include Linda Roberts, LCSW, Dana Sperber and Laura Robbins, DSW.
Source:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided
by Hospital
for Special Surgery, via Newswise.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and
length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Written by Unknown
We are Creative Blogger Theme Wavers which provides user friendly, effective and easy to use themes. Each support has free and providing HD support screen casting.
0 comments:
Post a Comment