Power training and the effect on pain in osteoarthritis

Abstract

Aims. Power training as a suitable training method for older adults but power training is not yet included in exercise recommendations for persons with osteoarthritis. Since many patients with osteoarthritis suffer from pain, the purpose of this study was to investigate if power training can decrease pain in persons with knee or hip osteoarthritis.

Methods. This study was undertaken as a systematic review. MEDLINE and EBSCO online databases were searched from the earliest date available until 31 October 2019. The search strategy returned a total of 118 trials and 5 articles were eligible for inclusion. 4 studies were RCT-studies and 1 study used a one group before-after design. The means and SD:s of pain as the outcome measure was extracted from the studies.

Results. Significant differences in pain scores between intervention and control group was only observed in one of the RCT studies. The results of the three other RCT-studies did not observe any group differences. All included studies demonstrated pain reduction in the power training intervention groups.

Conclusions. Power training can decrease pain in clients with hip or knee osteoarthritis, but it is not more effective than slow speed strength training, warm up combined with stretching or power training combined with balance training. The results of this study did not indicate any association of differences in movement velocity during training with the extent of pain reduction. This study did not indicate any benefit in pain reduction when adding balance training to power training. A combined intervention of stretching and warm up was equally effective as power training in reducing pain. Power training, slow speed resistance training, and warm-up combined with stretching resulted in similar pain reduction.