New study aims to improve analysis of physical activity in osteoarthritis patients

The scientific assessment of physical activity trends in people withosteoarthritis could be enhanced thanks to a new study funded byArthritis Research UK. Led by the Arthritis Research UK Centre for Sport,Exercise and Osteoarthritis at the University of Oxford, the study looked at reporting methods of physical activity across a number of international studies, before making a series of recommendations about how these methods could be made more consistent. Forming a clearer consensus Researchers are becoming increasingly aware that physical activity needs to be considered an important factor when studying osteoarthritis, but methods of assessing exercise levels are generally highly variable and have not been developed for use within scientific studies. Since this creates difficulties when comparing and interpreting data across different pieces of research, the aim of this study - published in the journal Rheumatology International - was to to establish an expert consensus on the most appropriate methods. After speaking to an expert panel, a number of recommendations were outlined. These included emphasising the need for all parameters of a given activity - including duration, frequency, type and intensity to be given within a specified timeframe, while physical activity should be measured across all domains of daily life, including not just dedicated sport and leisure time, but also household chores or gardening, active travel, and occupational activity. Efforts also need to b...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news