Self-management helps improve osteoarthritis

A cognitive behavioural-based program might help manage arthritis and improve pain and daily functioning in osteoarthritis of the hip or knee.The intervention involved six 2-hour sessions led by two physiotherapists, during which patients were taught goal-setting to optimize activity levels, self-relaxation for pain control, self-diagnostic skills and problem solving.The researchers from the Rehabilitation Foundation in Limburg analysed 273 patients of ages 40 to 60 years. They were randomly assigned to self-management or to the usual care by a family physician or specialist.

After 3 months the researchers documented an average decrease in knee pain of 0.67 points on a pain severity scale in the intervention group versus virtually no change in the group assigned to the usual care.Scores on two questionnaires that measured functional status revealed an average improvement of 2.45 points in the self-management group, versus a deterioration of 0.53 points in the usual care group. Similar results were observed in the patient-specific functional status score.

Improvement of pain and daily functioning in the self-management group has important consequences, because it positively influences opportunities for active social participation and quality of life.
The findings suggest that broader implementation of this intervention in primary care settings is warranted.