Effectiveness of exercise in patients with osteoarthritis of hip or knee: nine months' follow up

Objective-To determine whether the effects of an exercise programme in pati ents with osteoarthritis of hip or knee are sustained at six and nine month s' follow up. Methods-A randomised, single blind, clinical trial was conducted in a prima ry care setting. Patients with osteoarthritis of hip or knee (ACR criteria) were selected. Two intervention groups were compared. Both groups received treatment from their general practitioner, including patient education and drug treatment if necessary. The experimental group also received exercise treatment from a physiotherapist in primary care. The treatment period was 12 weeks, with an ensuing 24 week follow up. The main outcome measures wer e pain, drug use (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), and observed disa bility. Results-201 patients were randomly allocated to the exercise or control gro up, and 183 patients completed the trial. At 24 weeks exercise treatment wa s associated with a small to moderate effect on pain during the past week ( difference in change between the two groups -11.5 (95% CI -19.7 to -3.3). A t 36 weeks no differences were found between the groups. Conclusions-Beneficial effects of exercise decline over time and finally di sappear.