Breaking the Cycle of Inactivity - The Impact of Exercise on Pain, Distress, and Functionality in Knee Osteoarthritis

Q: What was the study purpose regarding knee osteoarthritis and exercise?

To investigate the relationship between clinical measures of knee osteoarthritis and physical activity-related variables.

Q: Which variables were used to assess pain, distress, and functional limitations?

Pain, psychological distress, and functional limitations were measured using VAS, PCS, and WOMAC.

Q: How did physical activity, social support, and exercise self-efficacy relate to outcomes?

Higher physical activity was associated with reduced pain and improved functionality; social support for exercise correlated with lower pain and WOMAC scores; exercise self-efficacy related to reduced PCS and WOMAC scores.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Miles

Breaking the cycle of inactivity in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) links physical activity patterns with pain, psychological distress, and functional limitations. A cohort of 704 symptomatic KOA patients (2020–2024) was assessed using VAS, PCS, and WOMAC, alongside exercise-related variables including physical activity, social support, exercise intention, and exercise self-efficacy. Multivariable regression and ANOVA examined clinical–behavior relationships and gender differences. Higher physical activity and social support were associated with lower pain and worse functioning, while self-efficacy related to reduced distress and functional limitations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Methods

Results

Gender Comparisons

Conclusion

628 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 SESSION 4560 (PAPER) FALLS, FUNCTION, AND ENVIRONMENT: CONTEXTUALIZING RISK AND RESILIENCE IN AGING POPULATIONS Abstract citation ID: igaf122.2148 BREAKING THE CYCLE OF INACTIVITY: THE IMPACT OF EXERCISE ON PAIN, DISTRESS, AND FUNCTIONALITY IN KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS Donya Nemati1, Jacob Jahn2, Levi Travis2, Ryan Rizk2, Eric Kholodovsky3, Navin Kaushal4, and Thomas Best3, 1. Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States, 2. University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, United States, 3. University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, United States, 4. Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States Introduction: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a chronic condition marked by joint degeneration that leads to pain, functional limitations, and diminished quality of life. The cyclical nature of KOA symptoms creates a self-perpetuating loop: reduced physical activity raises body mass index (BMI), increasing joint stress and worsening symptoms, further discouraging exercise. The purpose was to investigate the relationship between clinical measures of KOA and physical activity-related variables. Methods: Patients (n = 704; mean age 56.42) with symptomatic KOA (K-L grades 0–4) were evaluated at the University of Miami’s sports medicine clinic from 2020-2024. Clinical measures of pain, psychological distress, and functional limitations were assessed using the VAS, PCS, and WOMAC. Validated exercise variables included Physical Activity (PA), Social Support (SS), Exercise Intention (EI), and Exercise Self-Efficacy (ESE) . Multivariable linear regression assessed the relationship between clinical and exercise measures, while ANOVA was used for gender comparisons in exercise-related measures. Results: PA was associated with VAS (β=-0.037, p<.001), PCS scores (β=-0.124, p<.001), and WOMAC scores (β=-0.364, p<.001) . SS for exercise was associated with lower VAS (β=-0.017, p = 0.042) and WOMAC scores (β=-0.203, p<.001) . ESE was associated with reduced PCS (β=-0.061, p = 0.017) and WOMAC scores (β=-0.267, p<.001) . Gender comparisons revealed that males scored higher than females in EI: F(1, 734)=4.69,(p = 0.031), ESE: F(1, 733)=7.36,(p=0.007), PA: F(1, 289)=6.03,(p=0.015), and SS F(1, 734)=4.32, p = 0.038. Conclusion: Higher PA significantly reduced pain and functional limitations in KOA patients. Gender discrepancies in self-efficacy and intention to exercise highlight the need for exercise interventions tailored for males and females.

FAQs

What was the study purpose regarding knee osteoarthritis and exercise?

To investigate the relationship between clinical measures of knee osteoarthritis and physical activity-related variables.

Which variables were used to assess pain, distress, and functional limitations?

Pain, psychological distress, and functional limitations were measured using VAS, PCS, and WOMAC.

How did physical activity, social support, and exercise self-efficacy relate to outcomes?

Higher physical activity was associated with reduced pain and improved functionality; social support for exercise correlated with lower pain and WOMAC scores; exercise self-efficacy related to reduced PCS and WOMAC scores.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Miles