Aerobic Exercise Shows No Added Benefit for Hip Osteoarthritis Treatment

Adding aerobic physical activity to resistance exercise did not improve pain or function in patients with hip osteoarthritis (OA) after 3 months, according to a recent study published in The Lancet Rheumatology.

Researchers in Melbourne, Australia, conducted a randomized trial involving 196 participants with symptomatic hip OA. Participants were randomly assigned to either a group that received both aerobic exercise and resistance training, or a group that received only resistance training. Both groups participated in nine physiotherapy consultations over three months.

Study Design and Methodology

The study aimed to determine if adding aerobic activity to a resistance exercise program offers additional benefits compared to resistance training alone in managing hip OA pain and function.

Participants in the aerobic exercise and resistance training group engaged in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week in addition to their resistance training.

Researchers measured pain severity and physical function using the numerical rating scale and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) at 3 and 9 months.

Key Findings

The study found no notable difference in pain severity or physical function between the two groups at 3 months. Both groups demonstrated similar improvements in pain and function.

However, the Patient Specific Functional Scale and the 30-second sit-to-stand test showed greater improvement in the group that received both aerobic and resistance exercise compared to the resistance exercise-only group. This difference was statistically significant (P = .001 for the Patient Specific Functional Scale and P < .001 for the 30-second sit-to-stand test).

While more participants in the resistance exercise-only group reached the minimal clinically important difference for function at 9 months, the difference between the groups was not statistically significant.

The study indicated that adverse events were similar in both groups and were generally minor.

Practical Implications

These findings suggest that resistance exercise alone may be as effective as a combined program of resistance and aerobic exercise for improving hip pain and function in individuals with hip OA.

This could be particularly beneficial for individuals who may find it challenging to incorporate both types of exercise into their routine.

It’s important to note that this study had limitations,including a lack of blinding of participants and physiotherapists,potential impact of COVID-19 restrictions,and a predominantly female study population.

Conclusion

Resistance training appears to be a valuable treatment option for individuals with hip OA.While aerobic exercise may offer additional benefits in specific areas of function, it does not appear to be necessary for improving overall pain and function in the short term.

Further research is needed to explore the long-term effects of diffrent exercise programs on hip OA and to determine the optimal combination of aerobic and resistance exercise for different individuals.

Here are some PAA related questions, each on a new line, based on your provided text:

Does Aerobic Exercise Play a Role in Managing Hip Osteoarthritis? An Interview with Dr. Emma Rodriguez

Dr. Emma Rodriguez, a renowned physiotherapist and researcher specializing in osteoarthritis, agreed to discuss her latest study on teh effectiveness of aerobic exercise in managing hip osteoarthritis (OA). The research, published in the Lancet Rheumatology, challenges conventional wisdom about the benefits of combined aerobic and resistance training. Dr. Rodriguez shares her insights in this exclusive interview with Archyde.

Study Design and Methodology

Archyde: Your study compared two exercise regimens: one with both aerobic and resistance training, and another with resistance training alone. Could you walk us through the design and methodology?

Dr.Rodriguez: Certainly. We randomized 196 participants with symptomatic hip OA into two groups. Both groups underwent nine physiotherapy consultations over three months. The first group performed 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity weekly, in addition to resistance training. The second group performed resistance training only. we evaluated pain severity and physical function using the NRS and WOMAC at 3 and 9 months.

key Findings

Archyde: What were the key findings of your study?

Dr. Rodriguez: We found no significant difference in pain severity or physical function between the groups at 3 months. However, we saw greater improvements in the Patient Specific Functional Scale and the 30-second sit-to-stand test in the combined exercise group, with statistically significant differences.

archyde: Despite these specific improvements, we understand that the overall findings suggest resistance exercise alone may be as effective. Can you discuss why this might be?

Dr.Rodriguez: While aerobic exercise can offer targeted benefits, our findings indicate that resistance training may be sufficient for improving hip pain and function in the short term. This could be because resistance training directly targets the muscles surrounding the hip joint, which play a crucial role in hip OA management.

Practical Implications and Future Research

Archyde: What are the practical implications of your findings for individuals with hip OA?

Dr. Rodriguez: These findings suggest that individuals with hip OA may not need to engage in both aerobic and resistance exercise to achieve improvements in pain and function. this could be particularly beneficial for those facing challenges in incorporating both types of exercise into thier routine.

Archyde: given the study’s limitations, what avenues would you recommend for future research?

Dr. Rodriguez: Further research could explore the long-term effects of different exercise programs on hip OA and determine the optimal combination of aerobic and resistance exercise for various individuals.It would also be beneficial to include more male participants and ensure blinding of participants and physiotherapists in future studies.

Thought-provoking: Could Less Exercise Be More for Some with hip OA?

While our study suggests resistance exercise alone may be sufficient, the benefits of aerobic exercise should not be dismissed.Could it be that tailored, individualized exercise regimens could maximize benefits for different individuals with hip OA? We invite our readers to share their thoughts and experiences in the comments section below.