Compliance to Exercise Prescription in Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis
Date of Award
Summer 6-28-2023
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Exercise Science
Department
Kinesiology
First Advisor
Sam Krahling
Second Advisor
Angel Askie
Abstract
The incidence of osteoarthritis in adults, especially females, increases with age and is a type of joint condition that makes activities of daily living difficult due to pain severity. When compliant with exercise regime, osteoarthritis symptoms can be improved. However, despite the recognized benefits of exercise programs, female patients over the age of 45 continue to remain non-compliant with prescribed exercises. Non-compliance with exercise reduces the chances of a successful treatment outcome. The purpose of this research is to discover the compliance to exercise in female patients older than 45 years old with bilateral knee osteoarthritis. The methods will include two identical surveys for the sample of 20 people that qualify for the study; in which they will complete a baseline survey assessment, and post test survey after their prescribed exercise intervention. Thus, the surveys in this study will evaluate current levels of bilateral knee pain and disability, along with their quality of life. Subjects in the study will perform exercises prescribed by licensed healthcare providers in the aim of decreasing bilateral knee pain and increasing bilateral knee function in activities of daily living. The study anticipates that adherence to prescribed exercises from healthcare professionals will show an increase of quality of life and, in turn, decreases in bilateral knee pain and disability. The significance of the study is to see if more compliance with exercise results in greater quality of life and a decrease of bilateral knee pain in females older than 45 years of age living with bilateral knee osteoarthritis.