| Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic, debilitating disease that is the leading cause of disability and functional limitations in adults1-3. It is estimated that 15.8 million Americans between the ages of 25 and 74 have moderate to severe OA4. The most common symptoms of OA are joint pain, stiffness, and functional limitations. Previously, osteoarthritis was thought to be a result of "wear and tear" on the joints and physical activity was not an encouraged treatment. Now, it has become widely recognized that regular physical activity may benefit people with OA and may be a cost-effective treatment option for managing OA, symptoms such as reducing pain, improving muscle strength, and improving balance5,6. Recent self-report findings indicate that only 18% of men and 14% of women aged 65-74 achieve the physical activity recommendations of ≥ 30 minutes on at least 5 days a week7-9. Previous research that examines physical activity levels and relevant outcomes in individuals with knee OA are limited due to inadequate measurement tools and differences in study design. Objectively assessing physical activity habits in this population will help in the prescription of more beneficial treatment options.;The purpose of this study is to objectively assess the physical activity habits of older adults with knee OA; and to examine the relationship between physical activity and OA symptoms, such as functional limitations and pain. One-hundred and sixty participants (a sub-set of participants from the Intensive Diet and Exercise for Arthritis (IDEA) trial) wore an accelerometer for at least 4 days of 10 hours, which evaluated the number of steps/day, physical activity energy expenditure/day (PAEE), minutes of light physical activity (LPA), and minutes of moderate - vigorous intensity physical activity/day (MVP/VPA). Pearson correlations and manual step-wise regression analyses were used to examine the relationships between physical activity and physical function and pain in older adults with knee OA.;Results show that the total steps/day was 6209 (1459-15,949 steps) and PAEE averaged 237 + 124 (33-790) kcal/day. Total steps/day, PAEE, and minutes of MPA/VPA tended to be lower in individuals who were older. Being female was associated with less PAEE. There was a positive association between being white and steps/day, PAEE, minutes of LPA, and minutes of MPA/VPA. A higher SPPB score, which is indicative of greater lower extremity function, was associated with minutes of MPA/VPA. PA habits in this population were below the public health recommended levels. Participants who were more physically active in terms of total steps/day and PAEE had better overall physical function than those who achieved fewer total steps/day. |
