Back to community and being active again - Exercise training programme for patients with knee osteoarthritis in MMRC

Abstract

Introduction: Since 2016, Comprehensive Osteoarthritis ManagEment (COME) programme for patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) began in the MacLehose Medical Rehabilitation Centre. COME programme consists of 3-hour multidisciplinary education, 10 physiotherapy exercise sessions and six occupational therapy sessions of coping skills. This presentation is to review the 2-year results. Materials and Methods: Patients with radiological stages of Kellgren-Lawrence Grade I to III were recruited and assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 1 year with telephone follow-up. Outcomes assessed: physical performance with 1-minute chair-stand test and quadriceps strength with dynamometer; pain on walking or stairs climbing; weekly time on physical activities and exercise training; functional status with patient-specific functional scale (PSFS) score and selfefficacy with self-exercise efficacy (SEE) score; QoL with Euro-QoL five dimensions in three levels (EQ5D3L) and health with EQ5D3L VAS scale (EQ-VAS). Results: 163 patients completed programme with 1-year follow-up. Significant improvements observed: 1-minute chairstand test increased by 13.1 ± 17.5 repetitions, quadriceps strength increased by 5.1 ± 7.8 kg and 5.7 ± 7.7 kg in left and right side respectively at 3 months (p<0.001). Pain reduced by 1.1 ± 2.8 points, time spent on physical activities and training increased by 44.8 ± 44.2 minutes and 107.7 ± 113.2 minutes, PSFS improved by 3.6 ± 2.9 points, SEE improved by 14.6 ± 20.6 points, EQ5D3L increased by 0.1 ± 0.2 points, EQ-VAS improved by 8.0 ± 20 points at 1 year (p<0.001). 80% of patient would continue exercise at fitness rooms of Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Discussion and Conclusion: COME is effective to improve patients’ physical performance, quality of life and self-efficacy to maintain exercise habit.