A prospective comparative analysis of mobility in osteoarthritic knees - Does lifestyle have an influence?

We have sought to clarify whether the traditional Arabic lifestyle prevents restriction of movement in patients with degenerative arthritis of the kne e. The range of movement of 68 osteoarthritic knees of Arabic patients was compared with that of 51 healthy knees of Muslim patients and 83 osteoarthr itic knees in non-Arabic patients, The range of flexion of the osteoarthritic knees in the Arabic patients mat ched that of the healthy control knees, but was significantly better than t hat of the osteoarthritic knees in the non-Arabic patients. There was also a statistically significant difference between the mean extension deficit o f the two groups with osteoarthritis. Exercises may help to prevent restric tion of movement in osteoarthritis of the knee.