Acute Physiological Effects of Continuous Versus Intermittent Walking During Golf in Individuals With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Pilot Study

Objective The aim of the study was to compare the acute effects of walking the golf course versus using a golf cart during a round of golf on biological markers of joint disease, joint pain, and cardiovascular parameters in individuals with knee osteoarthritis. Methods Participants with knee OA (n = 10) older than 50 yrs were recruited for this crossover designed study in which they completed two 18-hole rounds of golf: (1) walking the course and (2) using a golf cart. Five control participants (n = 5) performed the walking condition only. Step count, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion and pain using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale were measured during the round. Serum was collected at baseline, 9th hole (halfway), and 18th hole (completion) and tested for biomarkers associated with tissue turnover (cartilage oligomeric matrix protein), inflammation (tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 1β, interleukin 6), and degradative enzyme production (matrix metalloproteinase 3, matrix metalloproteinase 13). Results In knee OA participants, walking the course was associated with significantly higher step count and duration of moderate/vigorous physical activity (72.2% vs. 32.6% of the round) but did lead to a significant increase in knee joint pain (P
Source: American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation - Category: Rehabilitation Tags: Original Research Articles Source Type: research