106 sedentary elderly >60 years old with knee and/ or hip OA, participated in a controlled trial for 12 months. 66 subjects in the intervention group exercised in a local community swimming pool twice a week. 40 age-matched control subjects received monthly education material and telephone calls enquiring about changes in medication and exercise behaviour. Participants in the exercise group experienced a significant improvement (P < 0.05) in physical function (4.0 +/- 9.1 vs. -0.4 +/- 7.3 units) and reduction in the perception of pain (1.3 +/- 3.7 vs. 0.2 +/- 2.5 units;) compared to the control group, as measured by the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). The exercise group also performed better in the battery of physical function tests after the intervention (P < 0.05), compared to the control group.
Date:
2002
Relation:
XXVII Fims: World Congress of Sports Medicine. 2002:203-206.
