title: Comparison of the symptomatic and chondroprotective effects of glucosamine sulphate and exercise treatments in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the symptomatic effects of glucosamine sulphate (GS) in comparison to the exercise therapy, as well effects on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) findings of cartilage loss in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy patients with a diagnosis of knee OA were randomly divided into two groups. First group of patients (n=40) were treated with 1500 mg/day oral glucosamine sulphate and the second group (n=30) performed a home exercise program for a period of 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with baseline, significant improvements were observed in the visual analogue scale pain scores and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index and 20-min walking time in both groups (p< 0.001); there were no significant differences between the two treatment groups. Upon the evaluation of joint cartilage thickness by MRI, an improvement was evident in only in the area of medial femoral condyle of patients who had performed a home exercise program (p< 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study suggest that both oral GS treatment and exercise therapy are efficient in the symptomatic treatment of patients with knee OA. However, exercise therapy found to have a better chondroprotective effect than oral GS treatment in this patient population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Eskisehir Osmangazi University Medicine Faculty, Eskisehir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Onur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Armagan
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Eskisehir State Hospital, Eskisehir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sebnem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yilmazer
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Eskisehir Osmangazi University Medicine Faculty, Eskisehir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cüneyt
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Calısir
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Eskisehir Osmangazi University Medicine Faculty, Eskisehir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Merih
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozgen
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Eskisehir Osmangazi University Medicine Faculty, Eskisehir, Turkey.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tascioglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Eskisehir Osmangazi University Medicine Faculty, Eskisehir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Setenay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oner
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Eskisehir Osmangazi University Medicine Faculty, Eskisehir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nevbahar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akcar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005944:Glucosamine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking
chemical_list: D005944:Glucosamine
keywords: Oral glucosamine sulphate; exercise; knee osteoarthritis