Holistic care could benefit people with knee osteoarthritis, says study

A new study has suggested that people with knee osteoarthritis could benefit from receiving a combination of pain coping skills training (PCST) and a programme of exercise than either intervention on its own.

For the study, led by the University of Melbourne, Australia, and published in Arthritis Care & Research, 222 people with knee osteoarthritis, aged 50 and above, received ten treatment sessions over 12 weeks, plus a home programme.

At 12 weeks, there were no significant difference for reductions in pain between those receiving the PCST, those involved in the exercise programme and those receiving both. However, the study did find significantly greater improvements in physical function for those in the combined PCST plus exercise group at 12 weeks, with these differences persisting at 32 and 52 weeks.

The study indicates that physical therapists could help patients recover their mobility more effectively by combining these two treatments. However, the research noted that there were potential expenses in doing so, as the cost-effectiveness of the combined method was not looked into by this study.

The researchers say, “This model of care could improve access to psychological treatment and augment patient outcomes from exercise in knee osteoarthritis, although it did not appear to be cost-effective.”

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