title: Power training in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a pilot study on feasibility and efficacy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the feasibility and efficacy of using a power training exercise programme for the quadriceps femoris (QF) in elderly women with knee osteoarthritis (OA).
  
  
  METHODS
  A one-group quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-intervention measurements was conducted on 17 older adult women with knee OA pain. A bilateral QF exercise programme (24 sessions over 8 weeks) consisting of 3 series of 10 repetitions of flexion-extension as fast as possible at 40% of their one-repetition maximum (1RM) was performed in an outpatient physiotherapy clinic. The primary outcome measures were the knee function and associated problems using the Knee injury Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) questionnaire and the weekly mean pain score from pain diaries using a visual analogue scale (VAS). QF strength (QFS), power (QFP) and work (QFW) were measured with an isokinetic dynamometer as secondary outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant improvements (p<0.05) were noted on the five categories of the KOOS. Significant decrease (p<0.01) was noted in pain intensity on VAS. QFP and QFW increased significantly on both sides (p<0.05). Exercise compliance was 99.5% for 16 participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A short power-training exercise programme is a feasible training modality for patients with knee OA, and significant functional improvements can be achieved. Further studies must be conducted to better understand the effects of the programme parameters and the generalizability of the findings.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, Department of Kinesiology ; Research Centre on Aging, Health and Social Services Centre - University Institute of Geriatrics of Sherbrooke (CSSS-IUGS), Sherbrooke Que.
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pelletier
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Université de Sherbrooke ; Research Centre on Aging, Health and Social Services Centre - University Institute of Geriatrics of Sherbrooke (CSSS-IUGS), Sherbrooke Que.
authors.forename: Cédric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gingras-Hill
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Université de Sherbrooke ; Research Centre on Aging, Health and Social Services Centre - University Institute of Geriatrics of Sherbrooke (CSSS-IUGS), Sherbrooke Que.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boissy
keywords: exercise therapy; muscle strength; osteoarthritis; quadriceps muscle; resistance training