title: The effects of group cycling on gait and pain-related disability in individuals with mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effectiveness of a community-based program of stationary group cycling on gait, pain, and physical function in individuals with mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis (OA).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Knee pain and disability are common symptoms in individuals with knee OA. Though exercise for knee OA has acknowledged benefits, it has the potential to aggravate symptoms in some instances.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-seven subjects (27 women, 10 men) with a mean ± SD age of 57.7 ± 9.8 years were randomly assigned to a cycling (n = 19) or control (n = 18) group for a 12-week intervention study. Outcome variables, measured at baseline and 12 weeks, included preferred and maximal gait velocity, a visual analog pain scale at rest and following a 6-minute walk test, muscle strength, and functional-outcome questionnaires. Data were analyzed using mixed-model analyses of variance for group and time differences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 12 weeks, the individuals receiving the cycling intervention showed significantly greater improvements (P<.05) for preferred gait velocity (mean difference between groups, 8.7 cm/s; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.2, 15.1), visual analog pain scale on the 6-minute walk test (mean difference, 16.5 mm; 95% CI: 2.1, 31.0), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index pain subscale (mean difference, 14.9 points; 95% CI: 2.6, 27.0) and stiffness subscale (mean difference, 10.8 points; 95% CI: 0.7, 21.3), the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score pain subscale (mean difference, 13.3 points; 95% CI: 3.4, 23.3), and the Knee Outcome Survey activities of daily living subscale (mean difference, 13.9 points; 95% CI: 2.0, 25.9) compared to controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stationary group cycling may be an effective exercise option for individuals with mild-to-moderate knee OA and may reduce pain with walking. US trial registration NCT00917618.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapy, level 1b-.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, Northern Illinois University, 204 Anderson Hall, DeKalb, IL 60504, USA. asalacinski@niu.edu
authors.forename: Amanda J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Salacinski
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krohn
authors.forename: Scott F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Megan L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ireland
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marchetti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000628:therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome