"Considering that side effects often limit the use of drug therapy and surgical intervention is often ineffective for mild or moderate knee osteoarthritis, our results give strong support to the combination of exercise and weight loss as a cornerstone for the treatment of overweight osteoarthritis patients," said Stephen Messier, professor of health and exercise science and principal investigator of the study.
Researchers from Wake Forest's health and exercise science department and Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center teamed for the study, called ADAPT (Arthritis, Diet and Activity Promotion Trial). They found that participants in an 18-month program of exercise and calorie-restricted diet had a 24 percent improvement in physical function. Participants in this group also reported the most significant improvements in knee pain--a decrease of more than 30 percent.
"Our study supports modest weight loss and moderate exercise as a safe, effective therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee," said Dr. Marco Pahor, professor of gerontology in the Wake Forest School of Medicine at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and a co- researcher on the study. Pahor is director of the Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center of Wake Forest University.
Arthritis is the leading cause of physical disability in adults, affecting more than 70 million Americans. Marked by joint damage and chronic pain, osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. Messier said problems with current treatments--anti-inflammatory drugs with potentially serious long-term side effects and surgery that can be ineffective--present a need for an alternative therapy.
ADAPT measured improvement in ph
'"/>
Contact: Karen Richardson
krchrdsn@wfubmc.edu
336-716-4453
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
6-May-2004