Association of Exercise Therapy and Reduction of Pain Sensitivity in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
OBJECTIVE: Exercise has beneficial effects on pain in knee osteoarthritis (OA), yet the underlying mechanisms are unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of exercise on pressure-pain sensitivity in patients with knee OA.
METHODS: In a randomized controlled trial, participants were assigned to 12 weeks of supervised exercise therapy (ET; 36 sessions) or a no attention control group (CG). Pressure-pain sensitivity was assessed by cuff pressure algometry on the calf of the most symptomatic leg. The coprimary outcomes were pressure-pain thresholds (PPTs) and cumulated visual analog scale pain scores during constant pressure for 6 minutes at 125% of the PPT as a measure of temporal summation (TS) of pressure-pain. Secondary outcomes included self-reported pain using the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) questionnaire. Analyses were based on the "per-protocol" population (participants following the protocol).
RESULTS: Sixty participants were randomized (31 in ET group, 29 in CG), and the per-protocol population included 48 participants (25 in ET group, 23 in CG). At followup, mean group differences in the change from baseline were 3.1 kPa (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.2, 6.0; P = 0.038) for the PPT, 2,608 mm × seconds (95% CI 458, 4,758; P = 0.019) for TS, and 6.8 points (95% CI 1.2, 12.4; P = 0.018) for KOOS pain, all in favor of ET.
CONCLUSION: Pressure-pain sensitivity, TS, and self-reported pain are reduced among patients completing a 12-week supervised exercise program compared to a no attention CG. These results demonstrate beneficial effects of exercise on basic pain mechanisms and further exploration may provide a basis for optimized treatment.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Journal | Arthritis Care and Research |
Volume | 66 |
Issue number | 12 |
Pages (from-to) | 1836–1843 |
Number of pages | 8 |
ISSN | 0893-7524 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Dec 2014 |
- Adult, Aged, Exercise Therapy, Female, Humans, Knee Joint, Male, Middle Aged, Osteoarthritis, Knee, Pain, Pain Measurement, Pain Threshold, Pressure, Questionnaires, Single-Blind Method, Treatment Outcome
Research areas
ID: 138276504