Long-term outcome in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee after comprehensive rehabilitation: A prospective 2 year follow-up study

Long-term outcome in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip or
knee after comprehensive rehabilitation: A prospective 2 year
follow-up study Objective: To examine the course of pain and
physical function after a comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation
intervention in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip or
knee. Design: Prospective 24-months cohort study with assessments
at baseline (entry into clinic), 1 (discharge), 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24
months after baseline. Setting: Inpatient rehabilitation clinic.
Patients: Consecutively referred patients to inpatient
rehabilitation fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Intervention:
Three to four week comprehensive rehabilitation intervention
including strengthening exercise, flexibility training, endurance
training, relaxationstrategies and consultations for preventive
measures. Individual home rehabilitation programs were instructed.
Main Outcome Measures and Analysis: Generic health status was
followed using the SF-36, condition specific health was followed
with the WOMAC questionnaire. Effects were analyzed with
sensitivity statistics (effect size, ES) and nonparametric tests.
Results: The data of 128 patients with complete follow-up data
could be analyzed. Both pain and physical function improved
moderately (WOMAC pain: ES = 0.56, WOMAC function ES = 0.44) until
discharge of the clinic. While the effect in pain reduction
remained significant until month 24 (WOMAC: ES = 0.26), physical
function deteriorated close to baseline values after 12 months.
Conclusions: Comprehensive in-patient rehabilitation of patients
with OA of the hip or knee may improve pain and physical function
for 6 months and pain in the long-ter