Exercising with knee and/or hip osteoarthritis with Prof Melanie Holden
Mar 19, 2023
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Prof Melanie Holden, a Chartered Physiotherapist specializing in osteoarthritis treatment through exercise, discusses the benefits of exercise for knee and hip osteoarthritis patients. Topics include challenges in optimal exercise delivery, personalized exercise prescriptions, the positive impacts of exercise on physical and mental health, and the importance of clarity in prescribing appropriate exercises for osteoarthritis patients.
Exercise improves pain, function, and quality of life for osteoarthritis patients.
Clearer recommendations and personalized exercise plans are crucial for effective treatment of osteoarthritis with exercise.
Deep dives
Benefits of Exercise for Osteoarthritis
Exercise offers multiple benefits for individuals with osteoarthritis, supported by over 130 trials focusing on knee osteoarthritis. Exercise improves strength, walking speed, and psychological well-being by enhancing mood and self-efficacy. Additionally, it can reduce the use of painkillers, doctor visits, and has broader health benefits for other chronic conditions.
Effective Delivery of Exercise for Osteoarthritis
While exercise is recommended for osteoarthritis treatment, its delivery often falls short due to healthcare professionals' attitudes, lack of knowledge, and unclear guidelines. Enhancing the effectiveness of exercise delivery requires clearer recommendations and individualized exercise plans tailored to patients' needs.
Developing a Resourceful Toolkit for Exercise Prescription
Efforts are underway to create an online toolbox to aid healthcare professionals in prescribing exercise for osteoarthritis patients. This toolbox will offer resources aligned with recommendations for optimal exercise delivery, aiming to bridge the gap between existing guidelines and practical application in clinical practice.
Exercise is a commonly recommended treatment for osteoarthritis. There have been many studies which have shown the benefits of exercise which include improved pain, function, and quality of life. However, more often times than not, exercise is delivered sub-optimally with health care professionals unclear about how to deliver exercise effectively to people with hip or knee OA. On this week’s episode of Joint Action, we are joined by Melanie Holden to discuss.
Melanie Holden is a Chartered Physiotherapist with 17 years of experience of applied health research based within the School of Medicine at Keele University in the UK. She leads the Osteoarthritis Research Group within the Centre for Musculoskeletal Health Research at Keele. Her research focus is optimising the management of musculoskeletal conditions, including osteoarthritis, through rehabilitation (non-drug, non-surgical treatments).