title: Optimization of Analgesics for Greater Exercise Therapy Participation Among Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis and Severe Pain: A Feasibility Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Severe pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) hampers the ability to exercise. A protocol for the standardized optimization of analgesics in combination with exercise therapy was developed. The purpose of this protocol was to reduce pain, thereby allowing the patient to participate in exercise therapy. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility and outcome of the protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-nine patients with knee OA and severe knee pain (numerical rating scale for pain ≥7) were included. Analgesics were prescribed following an incremental protocol. After 6 weeks, a 12-week exercise therapy program was added. Information about analgesic use and exercise therapy content was recorded. Knee pain and activity limitations were assessed at baseline, after 6 weeks, and after 18 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant improvements in pain and activity limitations were found in intent-to-treat analysis after 6 weeks of analgesic use and after the intervention was completed. Mean improvements from baseline were 30% (P < 0.001) for pain and 17% (P < 0.001) for activity limitations after the intervention was completed. Seventy-eight percent of the patients were able to exercise according to the protocol. In these patients, exercise therapy following 6 weeks of analgesic use resulted in a further improvement of activity limitations of 10% (P = 0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combined intervention of standardized analgesic prescription and exercise therapy allows most patients with knee OA and severe pain to participate in exercise therapy, leading to reduction of pain and activity limitations. These promising results need to be confirmed in a randomized controlled trial.
authors.affiliation: Amsterdam Rehabilitation Research Center, Reade, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Joyce A C
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: van Tunen
authors.affiliation: Amsterdam Rehabilitation Research Center, Reade, and VU University Medical Center, EMGO Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van der Leeden
authors.affiliation: Jan van Breemen Research Institute, Reade, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wouter H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Bos
authors.affiliation: Slotervaart Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.affiliation: Amsterdam Rehabilitation Research Center, Reade, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van der Esch
authors.affiliation: Jan van Breemen Research Institute, Reade, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Martijn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gerritsen
authors.affiliation: Amsterdam Rehabilitation Research Center, Reade, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wilfred F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Peter
authors.affiliation: Amsterdam Rehabilitation Research Center, Reade, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Leo D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Roorda
authors.affiliation: Jan van Breemen Research Institute, Reade, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Gerard J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Tijhuis
authors.affiliation: Westfriesgasthuis, Hoorn, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ramon E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Voorneman
authors.affiliation: Jan van Breemen Research Institute, Reade, and VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Willem F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Lems
authors.affiliation: VU University Medical Center, EMGO Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Joost
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dekker
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010349:Patient Compliance; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics