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Stories for Reprint
Spinning© Improves Knee Osteoarthritis
By Erin Willis, MARRTC Staff
Exercise is highly recommended for people with arthritis. But, is Spinning© a viable option for those with osteoarthritis? Spinning© is a form of group exercise that involves the use of stationary bicycles in a classroom setting. A new study from Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh has found that Spinning© actually reduces pain and improves symptoms associated with osteoarthritis.
"Group exercise motivates people," says Kelly Krohn, MD and co-lead investigator of the study. "You want to keep up with the rest of the crowd."
When imagining a Spinning© class, most would picture an instructor leading a room full of spandex-clad participants in a routine simulating actual bike rides, including hill climbs, sprinting, and interval training. The music is hard-pounding and all the participants look as if Lance Armstrong wouldn't be a challenge.
However, in this study - that isn't quite the case. "This was a toned down Spinning© class," says Krohn. "Since our participants were a little bit older and of different fitness levels, the class was tailored to meet their needs - slower, music they could relate to, no jumps or standing positions."
Thirty-seven participants between the ages of 38 and 74 with mild to moderate OA were divided into two separate groups. The first group participated in 12 weeks of instructor-led Spinning© classes, ranging from 2 to 5 sessions per week, lasting 35-60 minutes in duration.
The second group participated in regular fitness activities, excluding formal Spinning© classes, for the same 12 week period. "We asked them not to change their routine for three months," says Krohn.
There were no significant group differences found between age, gender, baseline BMI or weekly physical activity. However, those participants who finished the 12 weeks of Spinning© classes showed improvements in pain and stiffness.
"People could have felt better for a combination of reasons - muscle strength, weight loss, decreased depression," says Krohn. "The point is... the participants felt better."
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis, estimated to affect 21 million people, and is the leading cause of disability in the United States. OA is caused when the cartilage, attached at the end of the bone in a joint, breaks down from wear and tear.
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