The extent of knee osteoarthritis patients adherence to exercise and reducing weight in Makkah, Saudi Arabia – A cross sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Knee Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic disorder that is manifested by degeneration and cartilage loss which results in stiffness, pain, and limitation of movement. The common sites to be affected of this disease are knees, hips, hands, and spine joints. It is well known to use non-pharmacological path as a start before medications such as exercise and weight reduction. Researches before found were lack of knowledge about knee osteoarthritis among Saudi population. However, there are no studies conducted in Makkah, Saudi Arabia to assess the attitude of patients with Knee osteoarthritis towards weight reduction and daily exercise in Makkah population. Aim: our main aim was to examine the knowledge and adherence of subject suffering from knee osteoarthritis to weight reduction and daily exercise. Methods: we used a cross-sectional survey (questionnaire) with a total duration of 6 months, and total sample size 200 participants selected randomly in the Western Region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Results and conclusion: We found in this study around 72% of the subjects were suffering from knee osteoarthritis. Moreover, 94.0% of them worked outside the medical field. Around 61.0% of the subjects mentioned that when they decrease a load of heavyweights the pain is reduced. Unlike them 62.5% did not believe that physical therapy helps. To conclude we observed that our community needed more awareness about the essential part of exercise and weight loss to reduce pain and symptoms of knee osteoarthrosis.