Effects of exercise adherence on physical function among overweight older adults with knee osteoarthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether high exercise adherence improved physical function among older adults with knee osteoarthritis (OA) who were overweight or obese.


METHODS
Associations between exercise adherence, changes in 6-minute walking distance in meters, and self-reported disability (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index function subscale) after 6 and 18 months were examined among an Arthritis, Diet, and Activity Promotion Trial subsample (n = 134) using multiple linear regression models.


RESULTS
Higher exercise adherence was associated with greater improvements in 6-minute walking distance after 6 and 18 months and in disability after 6 months. Pain and body mass index (BMI) contributed, to some extent, to explaining the link between exercise adherence and changes in physical performance and self-reported disability.


CONCLUSIONS
Higher exercise adherence is associated with improved physical function in overweight and obese older adults with knee OA. This indicates that promoting adherence is clinically relevant when prescribing exercise regimens that also focus on decreasing pain and BMI.
van Gool
Coen H
CH
Universiteit Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands. Coen.vanGool@ZW.unimaas.nl
Penninx
Brenda W J H
BW
Kempen
Gertrudis I J M
GI
Rejeski
W Jack
WJ
Miller
Gary D
GD
van Eijk
Jacques Th M
JT
Pahor
Marco
M
Messier
Stephen P
SP
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012919:Social Behavior