Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 90, Issue 6 , Pages 897-904, June 2009

Effects of Weight-Bearing Versus Nonweight-Bearing Exercise on Function, Walking Speed, and Position Sense in Participants With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

  • Mei-Hwa Jan, MS, PT

      Affiliations

    • School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University and the Physical Therapy Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Chien-Ho Lin, PhD, PT

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
    • ,
  • Yeong-Fwu Lin, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Orthopaedics, West Garden Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Jiu-Jenq Lin, PhD, PT

      Affiliations

    • School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University and the Physical Therapy Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Da-Hon Lin, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Orthopaedics, En Chu Kong Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to Da-Hon Lin, MD, No 399, Fu-Hsin Road, Sang Shia Taipei County, Dept of Orthopaedics, En Chu Kong Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

Abstract 

Jan M-H, Lin C-H, Lin Y-F, Lin J-J, Lin D-H. Effects of weight-bearing versus nonweight-bearing exercise on function, walking speed, and position sense in participants with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective

To investigate whether weight-bearing (WB) exercise enhances functional capacity to a greater extent than nonweight-bearing (NWB) exercise in participants with knee osteoarthritis.

Design

Randomized controlled trial.

Setting

Kinesiology laboratory.

Participants

Participants (N=106) were randomly assigned to WB exercise, NWB exercise, or a control group (no exercise).

Intervention

WB exercise and NWB exercise groups underwent an 8-week knee extension-flexion exercise program.

Main Outcome Measures

Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) function scale, walking speed, muscle torque, and knee reposition error were assessed before and after intervention.

Results

Equally significant improvements were apparent for all outcomes after WB exercise and NWB exercise, except for reposition error, for which improvement was greater in the WB exercise group. In contrast, there were no improvements in the control group.

Conclusions

Simple knee flexion and extension exercises (WB and NWB) performed over 8 weeks resulted in significant improvement in the WOMAC function scale and knee strength compared with the control group. NWB exercise alone may be sufficient enough to improve function and muscle strength. The additional benefit of WB exercise was improved position sense, which may enhance complex walking tasks (walking on figure of 8 route and spongy surface).

Key Words: Exercise, Kinematics, Knee, Osteoarthritis, Rehabilitation

List of Abbreviations: ANOVA, analysis of variance, ICC, intraclass correlation coefficient, NWB, nonweight-bearing, OA, osteoarthritis, RM, repetitions maximum, WB, weight-bearing, WOMAC, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index

 

 Supported by the National Science Council, Executive Yuan, Taiwan (grant no. NSC 92-2218-E-002-014).

 Trial Registration Number: NCT 9100002377.

 No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit on the authors or on any organization with which the authors are associated.

 Reprints are not available from the author.

PII: S0003-9993(09)00143-9

doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2008.11.018

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 90, Issue 6 , Pages 897-904, June 2009

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