QUANTITATIVE-EVALUATION OF A HOME EXERCISE PROGRAM ON MUSCLE AND FUNCTIONAL-CAPACITY OF PATIENTS WITH OSTEOARTHRITIS

Rehabilitation of patients with osteoarthritis of the knees is typical ly based on home exercise. These programs are believed to benefit pati ents and have been shown to qualititatively improve strength. The purp ose of the present study was to quantify the effects of a 3-mo home ex ercise program on muscle function and functional capacity. The progres sive program included flexibility, strength, endurance, active range o f motion and functional activities. Nineteen subjects (67.4 +/- 7.5 yr ) with osteoarthritis of the knees began the program, with only nine c ompleting it. The subjects initially had significantly reduced muscle function and functional capacity. Maximal isometric strength of knee e xtension increased significantly at a knee flexion position of 45-degr ees for hip flexion positions of 120-degrees and 60-degrees (35%); how ever, it failed to increase at longer muscle lengths. There were no si gnificant improvements in hamstring strength. Maximal angular velocity improved after 3 mo of exercise (40%). Muscle endurance did not impro ve significantly. Although there was a slight increase in functional c apacity, these data failed to demonstrate significant clinical or stat istical improvement in overall function in patients after home exercis e.