During a two-year exercise study with men and women who had osteoarthritis, those who took pain medications were 54 percent more likely to drop out of the program. The dropout rate for those who were not taking pain medications was 20 percent, according to research by the Arthritis Research Institute of America (ARIA), a Clearwater, FL not-for-profit organization. “We’re not sure why that is, but it seems that we need to pay special attention to those medicating their pain when designing exercise studies,” said Frances Vaughn Wilder, PhD, the study’s lead researcher and ARIA’s executive director. “Those taking medications may need more follow-up and motivation to stick with exercise than those who aren’t taking them.” Osteoarthritis, which is the “wear and tear” form of arthritis, affects 27 million Americans after the age of 50. The study that correlates the effects of obesity in the peer-reviewed journal Physical Therapy. Since 1988, the Arthritis Research Institute of America (ARIA) has been studying thousands of participants to learn more about osteoarthritis. The 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit research organization is based in Clearwater, FL., but its findings have been published worldwide. ARIA’s x-ray database is globally acknowledged as one of the most complete sources of information about the progression of osteoarthritis. For information, call (727) 461-4054.
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Osteoarthritis (OA) Bring Out the Flip-Flops and Sneakers, Better for Osteoarthritis Hope For Those With Osteoarthritis Knee Pain |
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It’s tough to figure out why people drop exercise programs; burnout, injuries or boredom are possible causes. A study of 143 adults in an osteoarthritis exercise program in Clearwater, FL pointed to another cause: relying on pain medications to ease the pain and stiffness of the disease.
