Exercise
Does it Benefit Osteoarthritis Sufferers?

A rheumatology and sports medicine expert at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston is researching whether exercise slows the progression of osteoarthritis.

Dr. Andrew Concoff, assistant professor of rheumatology and orthopedics, will monitor 240 patients who have osteoarthritis in their knees. Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, is a degenerative disease that results in loss of cartilage in the joints. It is the No. 1 reason patients require total knee replacements, and it is the leading cause of permanent disability among people 65 and older.

Half of the patients in Dr. Concoff’s study will be enrolled in a supervised exercise program, and also will receive education about arthritis. The program will include weight lifting and other exercises twice a week for three months, then once a week for 15 months. The other study participants will learn about how to care for their arthritis but won’t be assigned to the exercise group.

Additionally, all participants will undergo arthroscopy at least once during the study to determine the extent of the disease and whether exercise is a benefit.

"More than 21 million Americans have osteoarthritis," Dr. Concoff said. "Some view this as a health crisis, because currently, we have very little available to slow progression in these patients. By 2020, the number of people with arthritis is expected to increase by 57 percent, and activity limitation as a result of the disease will increase by 66 percent. We have to find something that helps these patients, and I believe exercise is one of the answers."

To participate in the research, funded by the National Institutes of Health, patients must be between the ages of 40 and 75 and have moderate osteoarthritis. For information, call (713) 704-6190.

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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