Effects of Weight-Bearing Versus Nonweight-Bearing Exercise on Function, Walking Speed, and Position Sense in Participants With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial
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).
aSchool and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University and the Physical Therapy Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
bDepartment of Orthopaedics, West Garden Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
cDepartment of Orthopaedics, En Chu Kong Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
dDepartment of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Correspondence to Da-Hon Lin, MD, No 399, Fu-Hsin Road, Sang Shia Taipei County, Dept of Orthopaedics, En Chu Kong Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Supported by the National Science Council, Executive Yuan, Taiwan (grant no. NSC 92-2218-E-002-014).
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.
ABSTRACT