Efficacy of a self-management program for osteoporotic subjects

This study is based on whether the self-management program choices For Better Bone Health is effective to promote behavioral strategies for improving bone health, life quality, pain perception, physical function, and balance in osteoporotic subjects.

In this single-blind, randomized controlled study, a total of 50 sedentary women with postmenopausal and idiopathic osteoporosis were selected from the outpatients of Atatürk Balneotherapy and Rehabilitation Center according to their physical activity level and T scores of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry as the inclusion criteria. Fifty sedentary women with BMD T scores of -2.5 or lower were randomized into two groups (self-management group: group 1; and control group: group 2) and enrolled in a 6-mo study. Participants attended self-management class once a week for 5 wks. Evaluations were done at baseline, at the end of the fifth week, and at the sixth month. Pain-intensity evaluation by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), life-quality assessments by SF-36, balance testing by Sensitized Romberg Test (SRT), and functional assessment by Timed Sit to Stand test (TSS) and a simple questionnaire were the outcome measures.

When the groups were compared by change scores and percentages of change, improvements observed in pain intensity by VAS (P < 0.001), SF-36 Physical Function (P < 0.001), SF-36 Physical Role Limitations (P < 0.001), SF-36 Social Function (P < 0.001), SF-36 Mental Health (P < 0.001), SF-36 Vitality (P < 0.01), SF-36 Pain (P < 0.001), SF-36 General Health Perceptions (P < 0.05), SF-36 Emotional Role Limitations (P < 0.01), SRT eyes open (P < 0.001), SRT eyes closed (P < 0.001), and TSS (P < 0.001) were determined to be superior in group 1 at the end of the sixth month. Seventy-four percent of patients in group 1 engaged in regular physical activities, and 92% of them declared that they understood the purpose and benefits of medications and dietary calcium intake. Fifty-seven percent of them formed personal plans for preventing traumas, whereas 8% of the subjects in group 2 experienced new falls but no fractures.

It is determined that the self-management class led to improvements in functional, balance, and life-quality outcomes and to reductions in pain perception.