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Cited by 63Osteoarthritis Treatment and MechanismsMusculoskeletal pain and rehabilitationLower Extremity Biomechanics and Pathologies

What type of exercise is most effective for people with knee osteoarthritis and co-morbid obesity?: The TARGET randomized controlled trial

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Bennell, K.L., Nelligan, R.K., Kimp, A.J., Schwartz, S., Kasza, J., Wrigley, T.V., Metcalf, B., Hodges, P.W. +1 more·2020·Osteoarthritis and Cartilage
DOI 10.1016/j.joca.2020.02.838
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Different exercise types may yield different outcomes in osteoarthritis (OA) subgroups. The objective was to directly compare effectiveness of two exercise programs for people with medial knee OA and co-morbid obesity. DESIGN: were recruited from the community. Interventions were home-based non-weight bearing (NWB) quadriceps strengthening or weight bearing (WB) functional exercise for 12 weeks. Primary outcomes were change in overall knee pain (numeric rating scale, range 0-10) and difficulty with physical function (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, 0-68) over 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes included other pain measures, physical function, quality-of-life, global changes, physical performance, and lower-limb muscle strength. RESULTS: 123 (96%) participants were retained. There was no evidence of a between-group difference in change in pain (mean difference 0.73 units (95% confidence intervals (0.05,1.50)) or function (2.80 units (-1.17,6.76)), with both groups reporting improvements. For secondary outcomes, the WB group had greater improvement in quality-of-life (-0.043 units (-0.085,-0.001)) and more participants reporting global improvement (overall: relative risk 1.40 (0.98,2.01); pain 1.47 (0.97,2.24); function 1.43 (1.04,1.98). Although adverse events were minor, more NWB group participants reported ≥1 adverse event (26/66 (39%) vs 14/62 (23%), p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Both exercise types similarly improved primary outcomes of pain and function and can be recommended for people with knee OA and obesity. WB exercise may be preferred given fewer adverse events and potential additional benefits on some secondary outcomes. REGISTRATION: Prospectively registered (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry #12617001013358, 14/7/2017).

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  • Untitled work

    Tamin, T. Z., & Clements, C. (2025) · Acta Medica Indonesiana

Authors
Bennell, K. L., Nelligan, R. K., Kimp, A. J., Schwartz, S., Kasza, J., Wrigley, T. V., Metcalf, B., Hodges, P. W., & Hinman, R. S.
Affiliations
  • The University of Melbourne (AU)
  • Monash University (AU)
  • The University of Queensland (AU)
Corresponding author
  • Bennell, K.L.
  • Nelligan, R.K.
  • Kimp, A.J.
  • Schwartz, S.
  • Kasza, J.
  • Wrigley, T.V.
  • Metcalf, B.
  • Hodges, P.W.
  • Hinman, R.S.
ORCID
Venue
Osteoarthritis and Cartilage
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2020-06
Volume
28
Issue
6
Pages
755-765
ISSN
1063-4584 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.joca.2020.02.838
OpenAlex
W3011236554
Cited by
63
References
8
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 6
FWCI
4.33
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Osteoarthritis and Cartilage (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Health and Medical Research Council (1091302, 1154217, 1102905, 1058440)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Rheumatology › Osteoarthritis Treatment and Mechanisms
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Lower Extremity Biomechanics and Pathologies
Keywords
knee osteoarthritis, obesity, exercise therapy, home-based exercise, non-weight-bearing exercise, weight-bearing exercise, quadriceps strengthening, functional training, knee pain, physical function, quality of life, adverse events, lower limb muscle strength
MeSH terms
Aged, Double-Blind Method, Exercise Therapy, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Obesity, Morbid, Weight-Bearing, Treatment Outcome, Osteoarthritis, Knee

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