Physical Therapists' Use of Therapeutic Exercise for Patients With ...

Therapeutic Exercise for Knee Osteoarthritis
come from exercise for patients with
clinical knee OA.
Conclusion
This study has indicated that chartered
physical therapists in the
United Kingdom consistently use
therapeutic exercise to treat clinical
knee OA, incorporate advice about
positive lifestyle changes as part of
their treatment, and monitor exercise
adherence in some way. However,
in contrast to recent exercise
recommendations, 22 local exercise is
favored over aerobic or general exercise,
strategies to improve adherence
are underused, and exercise is
delivered over relatively few treatment
sessions. The differences in
clinical behaviors of physical therapists
working in different health care
settings highlight the role that service
restrictions play in the prescription
and supervision of exercise programs,
and the findings also suggest
that further education and training
for physical therapists about exercise
for clinical knee OA could be of
benefit. Overall, the results show
that there are some disparities between
current clinical practice and
recent exercise recommendations
and identify potential ways to overcome
these disparities. Further research
is needed to improve the outcome
from exercise for patients with
clinical knee OA.
Dr Foster provided concept/idea/research
design and fund procurement. Ms Holden
provided writing, data collection and analysis,
and project management. Ms Nicholls
and Dr Hay provided consultation (including
review of manuscript before submission).
For assistance with generating the sample
and administering the survey, the authors
thank The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
For ongoing support throughout the
study, they thank Julie Young, Dr Elaine
Thomas, Professor Mike Doherty, and Dr Edward
Roddy. They also thank all of the physical
therapists who participated in the study.
Approval to complete this study was granted
by the North Staffordshire Research Ethics
Committee.
An abstract of this study was presented orally
at the Physiotherapy Research Society Conference;
March 28, 2007; Cardiff, United
Kingdom.
This study was funded by the Physiotherapy
Research Foundation, The Chartered Society
of Physiotherapy Charitable Trust, and the
NHS North Staffordshire Primary Care Research
Consortium. Dr Foster is funded by a
Primary Care Career Scientist Award from
the Department of Health and NHS R&D. Ms
Holden is funded by an Allied Health Professional
Training Fellowship from the Arthritis
Research Campaign (grant reference
18004).
This article was received March 14, 2008, and
was accepted June 18, 2008.
DOI: 10.2522/ptj.20080077
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October 2008 Volume 88 Number 10 Physical Therapy f 9
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