Exergame technology to improve pain, physical actvity and fuctional mobility among older non-Hispanic white women with knee osteoarthritis

Background: Arthritis, the leading cause of disability, is among the most common disorders in the United States and is associated with considerable pain and functional limitations. The aim of this pilot study was to examine factors associated with pain and physical activity among older non-Hispanic white (nHW) women with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: Ratings of mechanical pressure pain sensitivity at the medial knee joint were assessed during exergame cycling and standard cycling. Additional ratings of distance and time were also collected. Sixteen (16) women participated in the study who were 56-70 years of age with weight ranging between 112 to 230lbs. Quantitative analyses using descriptive statistics were calculated to identify factors associated with BMI. Results: Analysis revealed that 31% (n=5) of the women were within the normal weight range of BMI compared to 31% (n=5) who were overweight and 38% (n=6) who were obese. On a scale from 0-100, reported pain sensitivity ratings were lower for cycling with the exergame compared to standard cycling across all weight groups - with the greatest reduction in pain rating for the obese group. Conclusion: Pain ratings exercising with game technology were lower than standard cycling. As such, novel interventions, like exergame cycling, may be used as an effective strategy for reducing pain sensitivity among older nHW women with knee OA.