The effects of weight reduction on the rehabilitation of patients with knee osteoarthritis and obesity.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of weight reduction on the rehabilitation of patients with knee osteoarthritis and obesity.


METHODS
A total of 126 patients with bilateral knee osteoarthritis and obesity were classified into 3 groups by their stages of osteoarthritis. Each group was divided into subgroups a, b, and c. The subjects in subgroup a received weight reduction treatment, those in subgroup b received weight reduction and electrotherapy modalities, and those in subgroup c received electrotherapy modalities to relieve pain.


RESULTS
Pain reduction, weight reduction, ambulation speed, and changes of Lequesne's index were greater in patients in subgroups a and b than in subgroup c after treatment. Although the last pain scores in subgroup b were less than those in subgroup a, as measured by a visual analog scale (VAS), there was no significant difference between their functional status. Significant pain relief (VAS < 2) and an acceptable functional status (Lequesne's index < 7) were indicated when weight reduction was more than 15% and 12%, respectively, of the initial body weight of the individual.


CONCLUSIONS
Weight reduction was found to be a practical adjuvant treatment in the rehabilitation of patients with knee osteoarthritis.
Huang
M H
MH
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, No. 100, Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan ROC.
Chen
C H
CH
Chen
T W
TW
Weng
M C
MC
Wang
W T
WT
Wang
Y L
YL
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss