• Yoann Dessery, Étienne L Belzile, Sylvie Turmel, Jean Doré, Binta Diallo, and Philippe Corbeil.
• Département de Kinésiologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, 2300 rue de la Terrasse, Quebec City, QC, Canada G1V 0A6 ; Unité de Recherche sur le Vieillissement, Centre de Recherche FRSQ du CHA Universitaire de Québec, 1050 Chemin Sainte-Foy, Quebec City, QC, Canada G1S 4L8.
• ScientificWorldJournal. 2014 Jan 1;2014:209165.

BackgroundIntra-articular corticosteroid injection is often used to relieve pain caused by knee osteoarthritis. This study aims to assess the impact after an intra-articular corticosteroid injection treatment on objective and subjective measurement of physical function in knee osteoarthritis patients.MethodsFourteen patients with unilateral knee osteoarthritis participated in this open-label uncontrolled trial. The intra-articular corticosteroid injection was given at the end of the second week. Physical activity was objectively measured by an accelerometer worn by the participants for eight weeks. Symptoms, quality of life and spatiotemporal parameters of gait were assessed every two weeks.ResultsFrom the injection until six weeks later, pain and stiffness were reduced by approximately 60%. Patients' daily physical activity time was significantly improved after injection: participation in light and moderate physical activities increased during four and two weeks, respectively.ConclusionsThe beneficial effects after the intra-articular corticosteroid injection are visible in the duration and intensity of the knee osteoarthritis patients' daily physical activity. However, these effects declined gradually two weeks after injection. Modulating the intensity and duration of physical activity would allow patients to optimize pain sensation over a longer period following an intra-articular corticosteroid injection. Trial Registration. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials: NCT02049879.

21 keywords...

hide…