Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint-related disease and most prevalent form of arthritis in the United States. Pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications are the most commonly prescribed treatments for OA. These medications, however, cannot completely alleviate OA symptoms. Additional recommended strategies for managing OA include physical and occupational therapy, exercise, and patient education. This study will compare the effectiveness of a physical training program, a self-management training program, and a program including both physical and self-management training for improving physical function in people with early stage knee OA.

There is no cure for arthritis; therefore, it is important to develop treatments to effectively manage the disease. The primary goals of arthritis management are to reduce pain and improve functional ability and quality of life. Existing treatments, including pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications, can only partially manage OA symptoms. Few studies, however, have been conducted to evaluate complementary measures, such as exercise and education. This study will compare a physical training program, a self-management training program, and a program including both physical and self-management training to determine their effectiveness in improving physical function in people with early stage knee OA.

Participants in this 2-year study will first undergo a physical evaluation that will include answering a questionnaire and having knee x-rays. Participants will then be randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups. All three treatments will include a 9-month supervised phase (Phase 1) and a 15-month maintenance phase (Phase 2).

• Group 1 participants will partake in a community-based arthritis self-management program. Phase 1 will include weekly 75-minute training sessions for 3 months. These sessions will be led by healthcare professionals and will address topics about arthritis and its treatment, healthy lifestyle, and physical activity. After completing the training sessions, participants will be contacted weekly by telephone for 3 months to discuss their progress. Then the telephone contacts will occur once every other week for the next 3 months. During Phase 2 of the self-management training program, participants will continue to receive telephone contacts from the project team to help support and promote the skills introduced during the training sessions. These contacts will occur monthly for 3 months and then every other month for the remainder of the study.
• Group 2 participants will first attend an orientation workshop and then start a long-term physical training program that will include components of balance, flexibility, muscle strengthening, and aerobic conditioning. During Phase 1, participants will attend three physical training sessions per week. During Phase 2, participants will have the option to continue the program in the location of their choice. Study staff will contact participants monthly by phone to discuss their progress. Participants may meet with the trainer on an as-needed basis for additional assistance with the program. They will also keep a log to track attendance and progress, and they will mail in the log monthly.
• Group 3 participants will complete both the physical and self-management training programs and will follow the schedules outlined for Groups 1 and 2.

All participants will complete questionnaires before beginning their assigned training programs and then every 3 months till Month 24. The questionnaires will take between 30 and 60 minutes to complete. At various times during the study, participants will measure their activity levels with a pedometer or an accelerometer. Prior to starting the training programs, at Month 9, and after completing the training programs, participants will complete several tests to measure their physical capabilities and muscle strength. Upon completing the training programs, participants will receive a follow-up x-ray of their knees at an assigned radiology clinic. They will also be asked to provide feedback on their study experiences via a mailer questionnaire, and they may be asked to provide feedback in a short telephone interview.

Inclusion criteria:

• History of pain on most days (i.e., 4 or more days in a week) in one or both knees for at least 4 months during the year prior to study entry
• Duration of symptoms (defined as pain on most days for at least 4 months in 1 year) of less than 5 years
• Radiographic evidence of grade II knee OA
• Some level of disability, represented as a score of 3 or higher for at least three of the following WOMAC Index items: descending or ascending stairs; walking; bending; and performing daily activities

Exclusion criteria:

• Any uncontrolled medical condition that could prevent safe participation in the study (e.g., uncontrolled heart disease, blood pressure, or respiratory conditions)
• Any neurological condition that could affect coordination
• Inflammatory arthritis (e.g., rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis)
• Participates in aerobic activity or resistance training for more than 60 minutes per week
• History of knee surgery
• Radiographic grade I, III-IV (Kellgren and Lawrence classification)
• Body mass index of at most 37.5 Kg/m2 (Individuals over this limit will be advised to follow a weight loss program and achieve stable weight for 6 months prior to participation.)
• History of a knee corticosteroid injection in the 3 months prior to study entry
• Plans to move from the local area
• Plans to become pregnant during the study