STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of a community-based program of stationary group cycling on gait, pain, and physical function in individuals with mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis (OA). BACKGROUND: Knee pain and disability are common symptoms in individuals with knee OA. Though exercise for knee OA has acknowledged benefits, it has the potential to aggravate symptoms in some instances. METHODS: Thirty-seven subjects (27 women, 10 men) with a mean ± SD age of 57.7 ± 9.8 years were randomly assigned to a cycling (n = 19) or control (n = 18) group for a 12-week intervention study. Outcome variables, measured at baseline and 12 weeks, included preferred and maximal gait velocity, a visual analog pain scale at rest and following a 6-minute walk test, muscle strength, and functional-outcome questionnaires. Data were analyzed using mixed-model analyses of variance for group and time differences. RESULTS: After 12 weeks, the individuals receiving the cycling intervention showed significantly greater improvements (P<.05) for preferred gait velocity (mean difference between groups, 8.7 cm/s; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.2, 15.1), visual analog pain scale on the 6-minute walk test (mean difference, 16.5 mm; 95% CI: 2.1, 31.0), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index pain subscale (mean difference, 14.9 points; 95% CI: 2.6, 27.0) and stiffness subscale (mean difference, 10.8 points; 95% CI: 0.7, 21.3), the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score pain subscale (mean difference, 13.3 points; 95% CI: 3.4, 23.3), and the Knee Outcome Survey activities of daily living subscale (mean difference, 13.9 points; 95% CI: 2.0, 25.9) compared to controls. CONCLUSION: Stationary group cycling may be an effective exercise option for individuals with mild-to-moderate knee OA and may reduce pain with walking. US trial registration NCT00917618. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapy, level 1b–.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2012;42(12):985-995, Epub 2 August 2012. doi:10.2519/jospt.2012.3813

KEY WORDS: arthritis, gait patterns, group exercise, spinning

Study Design: Case series. Objective: To describe the clinical outcomes of 15 patients with cervical radiculopathy treated with mechanical intermittent cervical traction. Background: Effectiveness of traction for the treatment of cervical spinal syndromes is controversial and the outcome of this treatment has not been established in the literature. Methods and Measures: Fifteen patients (45.5 ± 13 years) completed a course of treatment using mechanical intermittent cervical traction. Eleven patients presented at baseline with radicular symptoms of 12 weeks duration or less, and 4 patients had long-standing radicular symptoms lasting more than 12 weeks. Outcome was measured using the Neck Disability Index (NDI) and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). Results: Eight of the 15 cases (53%) in this series demonstrated complete pain resolution; these patients had symptom duration of 12 weeks and less. Seven of these 8 cases displayed a final NDI of 10% or less. Three out of 4 of the patients with symptom duration less than 12 weeks showed no reduction in pain or increased pain rating, with minimal change in perceived disability of 12% or less. Conclusion: In this case series, patients with radicular symptoms lasting for 12 weeks and less demonstrated a reduction in pain and perceived disability. The NDI, when used in conjunction with the NPRS, provides a more comprehensive assessment of the patient with cervical radiculopathy, thus allowing the clinician to make a better judgment about the clinical effects of cervical traction.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2001;31(4):207-213.

Key Words: disability, neck pain, traction, treatment outcome