Rehabilitation Physiology Lab: Recent Publications

Leddy JJ, NM Fisher, RJ Smolinski, YK Barodawala, P Pandya and DR Pendergast. Effects of Exercise Rehabilitation on Muscle Function, Activity and Joint Spaces in Patients with Osteoarthritis. Med Sci Sports Exerc 26(suppl):S142, 1994.

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee has been shown to reduce muscle strength, endurance and speed, which alters gait and may exacerbate joint space narrowing. We have shown that muscle rehabilitation (QPER) improved both daily activity and muscle function, and reduced difficulty and pain in patients with OA. This study determined the effect of QPER on knee joint space. Two groups of OA subjects (n=15 each) participated in a cycling knee extension/flexion program (QPER) (3x wk-1). Weight bearing x-rays of both knees; muscle strength, endurance and speed; dependency, difficulty and pain; walking time; and habitual activity were measured prior to and after 10 weeks of exercise. Quadriceps and hamstring strength (22% and 23%) and endurance (19% and 19%) increased. Muscle speed increased 21% and walking time decreased 11%. Activity increased (23%), while dependency (23%), difficulty (19%) and pain (23%) decreased. Orthopaedic evaluation revealed improved knee extension/flexion and joint stability. Although the grade of OA (0 to 4 scale) did not change significantly, 45% of the patients had increased joint space. Patients with OA can significantly increase muscle function and be more active with less pain. Cycling appears better for patients with less severe OA (< grade 3), while QPER exercises are better for patients with more severe OA (> grade 3). Many patients' joint spaces increased with 10 weeks of exercise, longer periods may improve the remaining patients and delay the loss of joint space which often leads to knee replacement.

OTHER ABSTRACTS

Fisher NM. Effects of Three Exercise Rehabilitation Programs on the Relationship between Muscular Strength and Efficiency in Knee Osteoarthritis. Arthritis Rheum 52(9)Suppl:S434, 2005.

Fisher NM, DM Dolan, C Brenner, DR Pendergast. Quantitative Effects of a Water Exercise Program on Functional and Physiological Capacity in Subjects with Osteoarthritis: a Pilot Study. Sport Sciences for Health 1(1):17-24, 2004

Graham J, N Fisher. Effects of Resistance Training on Muscle Function in Individuals with Knee Osteoarthritis. Arthritis & Rheumatism 48(9) suppl: S445, 2003.

Fisher NM and DR Pendergast. Reduced Muscle Function in Patients with Osteoarthritis . Scand J Rehab Med 29:213-221, 1997.

Fisher NM, SC White, HJ Yack, RJ Smolinski and DR Pendergast. Muscle Function and Gait in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis before and after Muscle Rehabilitation. Disability Rehabil 19(2):47-55, 1997.

Fisher NM and DR Pendergast. Application of Quantitative and Progressive Exercise Rehabilitation to Patients with Osteoarthritis of the Knee . Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation 5:33-53, 1995.

Fisher NM and DR Pendergast. Effects of a Muscle Exercise Program on Exercise Capacity in Subjects with Osteoarthritis . Arch Phys Med Rehabil 75(7):792-797, 1994.

Fisher NM, VD Kame, L Rouse and DR Pendergast. Quantitative Evaluation of a Home Exercise Program on Muscle and Functional Capacity of Patients with Osteoarthritis. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 73:413-420, 1994.

Fisher NM, GE Gresham and DR Pendergast. Quantitative Progressive Exercise Rehabilitation (QPER) for Osteoarthritis of the Knee . Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America 5(4):785-802, 1994.

Fisher NM, GE Gresham and DR Pendergast. Effects of a quantitative progressive rehabilitation program applied unilaterally to the osteoarthritic knee. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 74(12):1319-1326, 1993.

Fisher NM, GE Gresham, M Abrams, J Hicks, D Horrigan and DR Pendergast. Quantitative effects of physical therapy on muscular and functional performance in subjects with osteoarthritis of the knees . Arch Phys Med Rehabil 74(8):840-847, 1993.

Fisher NM, SC White, JH Yack, RJ Smolinski and DR Pendergast. Muscle Function and Gait in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis before and after Muscle Rehabilitation. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 73(10):972, 1992.

Fisher NM, DR Pendergast, GE Gresham and E Calkins. Muscle rehabilitation: its effect on muscular and functional performance of patients with knee osteoarthritis . Arch Phys Med Rehabil 72(6):367-374, 1991.

Pendergast DR, VD Kame Jr, L Rouse and NM Fisher. Quantitative Evaluation of a Physical Therapy Supervised Home Exercise Program on Muscle and Functional Capacity of Patients with Osteoarthritis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 72:792, 1991.

Fisher NM, VD Kame Jr and DR Pendergast. Effects of Muscle Rehabilitation on Cardiovascular Fitness in Patients with Osteoarthritis. Gerontologist 31(Special Issue II):9, 1991.

Fisher NM, DR Pendergast and GE Gresham. Reduced Muscle and Functional Performance in Patients with Osteoarthritis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 71:783, 1990.

Fisher NM, DR Pendergast and GE Gresham. Progressive Quantitative Rehabilitation of Patients with Osteoarthritis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 71:762, 1990.

Gresham GE, NM Fisher, DR Pendergast and E Calkins. Quantitative Quadriceps Strengthening in Osteoarthritis of the Knees. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 69:725, 1988.