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Protecting
the Knees of Seniors
Social support, aerobic activity and self-efficacy are among
the factors that help prevent disability in elderly people
with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee.
That's the claim of a study in the December issue of Arthritis
& Rheumatism.
The three-year Northwestern University study of 236 people
offers information about differences in disease progression
and levels of mobility among people with OA, with important
implications for early diagnosis and effective intervention.
The researchers confirmed pain was a major cause of disability
in OA patients. They also learned more about the role of
psychological and social factors and the benefits of aerobic
exercise for people with OA.
The study found the OA patients with the best odds of avoiding
disability had less knee pain and lower Body Mass Index
(BMI). These more mobile patients scored higher on muscle
strength and joint laxity tests and were more active. They
did aerobic exercises, such as walking, swimming and bicycling,
more regularly and more frequently per week.
The patients with the best outcomes also scored highest
in terms of self-efficacy, depression and perceived sources
of social support.
"These results have implications for future studies
and for strategies to optimize physical function in knee
OA," lead researcher Dr. Leena Sharma says in a prepared
statement.
"Treatment of pain is believed to be the crux of disability
prevention in knee OA, and the results of the current study
provide additional, longitudinal support for this. However,
several modifiable factors were identified that were independently
linked to function outcome after adjusting for pain intensity,
which supports a multifaceted approach," Sharma says.
More information
Here's where you can learn more about osteoarthritis.
Article Source: HealthDay
Article Author: N/A
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