Impact of Exercise on Older Persons With Osteoarthritis

Previous studies have found that exercise can reduce pain, improve endurance for physical activities, and improve cardiovascular fitness over time. However, these studies have not looked at the impact of exercise programs for older adults with osteoarthritis or at how long older adults continue exercising after a program is finished. This study will look at the long-term effects of a structured exercise program for people aged 60 or older who have osteoarthritis of the hip or knee. One goal of the exercise program is to encourage older people with osteoarthritis to continue exercising. We will randomly assign study participants to either the exercise program or a control group that does not do the exercise program. We will monitor participants at the start of the study, at 8 weeks, and every 3 months for 2 years after the program is completed. The exercise program lasts for 8 weeks and includes an exercise part and an educational part led by trained physical therapists. We believe that participants in the treatment (exercise) group will show higher rates of continued exercise and higher functional status over time compared to the group of people who do not participate in the exercise program.