New research from Medical College of Georgia (MCG) shows strength training reduces pain and increases functioning for osteoarthritis patients.

Dr. Robert Topp, the Kellett chair, and associate dean for research in MCG’s School of Nursing, recently completed a three-year study of adults diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis. The study assessed the pain, functional abilities, knee joint proprioception (the reception of stimuli), gait (walking) characteristics and quadriceps strength of 135 participants. Subjects were randomized into an isometric (resistance) strength training group, a dynamic (continuous activity) strength training group, and a no-exercise group, and then participated in a 16-week regimen.

The findings cite extensive benefits from the exercise and are published in an upcoming edition of Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Physical functioning was tested prior to the subjects’ 16-week routine by recording the time it took participants to get down on the floor or to go down a flight of stairs. While doing these tasks, each subject rated his pain. After thrice-weekly sessions of 20-30 minutes of exercise, data show subjects in both dynamic and isometric exercise groups had more than 20 percent increase in physical functioning, and a greater than 50 percent reduction in pain compared to those subjects who had no exercise program. Other findings suggest that both types of resistance exercise may have an impact on reducing both medication consumption and orthopedic surgery.

"There are many other health problems that result from osteoarthritis. The pain leads patients to reduce their activity, which in turn contributes to obesity, cardiovascular disease and other diseases or inactivity," said Dr. Topp."Taking pain medication associated with this disease also results in health problems. Thirty to 40 percent of our subjects came to this with stomach problems which may be associated with their long-term consumption of pain medications."

Since most adults are diagnosed with osteoarthritis in their 40s and many require surgery by their 60s, Dr. Topp’s study suggests regular strength training could delay the onset of this painful disease and the need for surgery.

"Osteoarthritis of the knee affects 10 percent of all adults. Eighty percent of senior adults have osteoarthritis. If we all live long enough, we all have a good chance of getting this disease," said Dr. Topp, who has studied health education and exercise physiology for over 12 years. "Surgery or pain medication have been the most common methods reduce the pain and increase functioning"