ONE-YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF PATIENTS WITH OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE KNEE WHO PARTICIPATED IN A PROGRAM OF SUPERVISED FITNESS WALKING AND SUPPORTIVE PATIENT EDUCATION

Objective. To determine whether gains in functioning observed immediat ely following participation in an 8-week program of supervised fitness walking for patients with knee osteoarthritis were sustained at 1-yea r followup. Methods. Twenty-nine (61.1%) of 47 original intervention p rogram patients and 23 (51.1%) of 45 original control patients were in terviewed by telephone at 1-year followup. Patients completed the Arth ritis Impact Measurement Scales physical activity, arthritis impact, p ain, medication use, and general health perceptions subscales, as well as a separate visual analog pain scale and measures of perceived self -efficacy to cope with arthritis pain and other symptoms. Results. Adh erence to walking was low, and there were no statistically significant differences between intervention and control patients at one year. Co nclusions. The failure of intervention patients to maintain regular wa lking resulted in loss of functional benefits that were observed at 8 weeks in the original study. Long-term adherence to walking is critica l to maintenance of initial gains in functional outcomes.