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In hip osteoarthritis, Nordic Walking is superior to strength training and home‐based exercise for improving function
Author(s) -
Bieler T.,
Siersma V.,
Magnusson S. P.,
Kjaer M.,
Christensen H. E.,
Beyer N.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.575
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1600-0838
pISSN - 0905-7188
DOI - 10.1111/sms.12694
Subject(s) - medicine , stair climbing , physical therapy , osteoarthritis , randomized controlled trial , quality of life (healthcare) , physical medicine and rehabilitation , alternative medicine , nursing , pathology
This observer‐blinded, randomized controlled trial compared the short‐ and long‐term effects of 4 months of supervised strength training ( ST ) in a local fitness center, supervised Nordic Walking ( NW ) in a local park, and unsupervised home‐based exercise ( HBE , control) on functional performance in 60+‐year‐old persons ( n = 152) with hip osteoarthritis ( OA ) not awaiting hip replacement. Functional performance [i.e., 30‐s chair stand test (primary outcome), timed stair climbing, and 6‐min walk test] and self‐reported outcomes (i.e., physical function, pain, physical activity level, self‐efficacy, and health‐related quality of life) were measured at baseline and at 2, 4, and 12 months. Based on intention‐to‐treat‐analyses improvements [mean (95% CI )] after intervention in number of chair stands were equal in all three groups at 4 months [ ST : 0.9 (0.2–1.6), NW : 1.9 (0.8–3.0), HBE : 1.1 (0.1–2.0)] but greater in the NW group [1.4 (0.02–2.8)] than in the ST group at 12 months. Generally, improvements in functional performance were greater ( P < 0.001– P < 0.03) after NW compared with HBE and ST at all follow‐up time points. Furthermore, NW was superior ( P < 0.01) to HBE for improving vigorous physical activity and to both ST and HBE for improving ( P < 0.01) mental health. These data suggest that NW is the recommended exercise modality compared with ST and HBE .