title: Impact of an integrated health education and exercise program in middle-aged Thai adults with osteoarthritis of the knee.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the impact of an integrated health education and exercise program on knee osteoarthritis knowledge, self-efficacy expectations, behaviors, and health outcomes including severity of knee symptoms, muscle strength, joint range of motion, and body mass index in middle-aged adults with knee osteoarthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-five participants were assigned to either Group 1 or Group 2. Both groups received a 1-day health education program followed by a facilities-based exercise program for Group 1 and a supervised home-based exercise program for Group 2, 3 times a week for 12 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants in each group had a significant improvement in study variables at 2-, 8- and 12-week follow-ups compared with baseline assessment. There were no significant differences in study variables between the 2 groups, except muscle strength and right knee flexion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Integrated health education with either a facilities-based or supervised home-based exercise program is beneficial for patients with knee osteoarthritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Naphaphorn
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Piyakhachornrot
authors.forename: Suparb
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aree-Ue
authors.forename: Panwadee
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Putwatana
authors.forename: Viroj
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kawinwonggowit
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013785:Thailand