In hip osteoarthritis, Nordic Walking is superior to strength training and home-based exercise for improving function

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Orthopedics
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Hip osteoarthritis (OA) significantly impacts functional performance and quality of life in older adults.
• Exercise interventions are crucial for managing OA, but optimal modalities require further investigation.
• Supervised and unsupervised exercise programs offer different adherence and efficacy profiles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the short- and long-term effects of supervised strength training (ST), supervised Nordic Walking (NW), and unsupervised home-based exercise (HBE) on functional performance in older adults with hip OA.
• To evaluate the impact of these exercise interventions on self-reported outcomes including physical function, pain, physical activity, self-efficacy, and quality of life.

Main Methods:

• An observer-blinded, randomized controlled trial involving 152 participants aged 60+ with hip OA.
• Interventions included 4 months of supervised ST, supervised NW, or HBE (control).
• Functional performance (30-s chair stand, stair climbing, 6-min walk) and self-reported outcomes were assessed at baseline, 2, 4, and 12 months.

Main Results:

• Improvements in the 30-s chair stand test were comparable across all groups at 4 months, but greater in the NW group than ST at 12 months.
• Nordic Walking demonstrated superior improvements in functional performance compared to HBE and ST at all follow-up points.
• NW significantly enhanced vigorous physical activity and mental health compared to HBE and ST.

Conclusions:

• Nordic Walking is a recommended exercise modality for improving functional performance and mental health in older adults with hip osteoarthritis.
• Supervised NW offers greater long-term benefits compared to supervised ST and HBE for this population.
• Exercise interventions, particularly NW, play a vital role in the conservative management of hip OA.