Effects of pain and psychological factors on the exercise habits of knee osteoarthritis patients who have been recommended to exercise: A multi-facility collaborative study

Abstract

[Purpose] To clarify the factors influencing the exercise habits of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients who have been recommended to exercise. [Subjects and Methods] We conducted a multi-facility collaborative survey, distributing 300 questionnaires about pain and psychological factors to KOA patients over the age of 50. [Results] Statistical analysis with corrections for confounding factors of the 120 replies, divided into no exercise habit (64 persons) and exercise habit (56 persons) groups, revealed that WOMAC function and sense of self-efficacy of exercise were factors related to the two groups, whereas pain was not. [Conclusion] It appears that continuation of the exercise habit of recommended physical activities is related to preference for exercise, lowering of physical function and confidence in ability to perform exercise, rather than pain or psychological factors.