The Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) Rehabilitation Discussion Group offered new physical activity recommendations for patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis and their physicians, according to a report from Rheumatology Advisor. Investigators first identified existing recommendations by conducting a literature review and proceeded to develop their own proposed physical activity recommendations. They then rated the new proposed recommendations through several rounds of Delphi surveys to come to a consensus on 54 of the strongest proposals in 11 categories, which the investigators hope will be used to inform patients of potential therapeutic exercise regimens to reduce their pain. Among these new recommendations were:
- Physicians should encourage patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis to seek new strategies to manage their pain and find physical activities with which they are most compatible.
- Physicians should assess patients’ overall health, physical limitations, psychosocial status, exercise contraindications, and other factors at baseline—and continue evaluations to monitor their progress.
- Physicians should involve patients in the decision-making process to set physical activity goals.
- Each recommended exercise should be individualized to suit the patients’ needs, while addressing their physical and cognitive limitations, comorbidities, pain severity, and autonomy.
- Physicians should suggest modifications to exercise recommendations on the basis of patient responses to physical activities.
- Physicians should uphold a trusting and open environment for patients to discuss which exercises they are confident in performing and any difficulties they may have in attaining their exercise goals.
- Physicians should provide the motivational and educational tools their patients need to comply with physical activity recommendations and understand the benefits of exercising to manage their knee or hip osteoarthritis.