Functional Fitness and Self-Reported Quality of Life of Older Women Diagnosed with Knee Osteoarthrosis: A Cross-Sectional Case Control Study

Abstract

Aim. Utilizing a cross-sectional case control design, the aim of this study was to evaluate the functional fitness and self-reported quality of life differences in older people diagnosed with knee osteoarthrosis (O) who participated in health promotion groups. Methods. Ninety older women were distributed into two groups: control without O of the knee (C, n=40) and a group diagnosed with primary and secondary knee O with grade II or higher, with definite osteophytes (OA, n=50). Functional fitness was evaluated by specific tests, and the time spent in physical activity and quality of life was evaluated by the IPAQ and WHOQOL (distributed in four domains: physical: P, psychological: PS, social: S, and environmental: E) domain questionnaires. Results. No differences were found between ages of groups (C: 66±7; OA: 67±9; years). The values of the chair stand test (rep) in the OA (13±5) group were different when compared to C group (22±5). For the 6-minute walk test (meters), the values obtained for the C (635±142) were higher (P<0.01) than the OA (297±143) group. The time spent in physical activity (min) was greater (P<0.001) in the control (220±12) group compared to OA (100±10) group. Higher values (P<0.001) in all domains were found in the C (P: 69±16, PS: 72±17, S: 67±15, E: 70±15) group compared to OA (P: 48±7, PS: 43±8, S: 53±13, E: 47±14) group. Conclusion. Our data suggests that knee O, in older women, can promote a decline in time spent performing physical activity and functional fitness with decline in quality of life with an increase in sitting time.