Background Effects of exercise on pain, physical function, daily living activities and cytokines have been investigated in osteoarthritis (OA) patients (1). However there is no reported multidimensional approach including all these parameters at once in OA patients. On the other hand, the cognitive exercise therapy approach (BETY: Bilişsel Egzersiz Terapi Yaklaşımı) was used as a multidimensional exercise model including effects of improvements on symptoms and anti-inflammatory status in ankylosing spondylitis patients (2).

Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of a multidimensional (BETY) exercise program on symptoms and anti-inflammatory status in OA patients of the knee.

Methods Forty patients with knee osteoarthritis defined as Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grade1 and 2, were included in this study, and divided randomly into two groups (BETY group and control). Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) was used for functional evaluation and IL-6 were analyzed for anti-inflammatory status in both groups. Control group did not get any exercise intervention. However, BETY group were participated to exercise sessions 3 times a week for 10 weeks. All measurements were repeated after 10 weeks in both groups.

Results WOMAC pain, physical function and WOMAC total score values were decreased significantly (p<0.05) in exercise group. However HAQ, WOMAC stiffness score were remained stable according to pretreatment values in this group (p>0.05). Although any significant change in IL-6 in both groups were not observed, IL-6 decreased in BETY group. Moreover, TNF-a showed significant increase in control group (p<0.05). No change was observed for other values between pre- and post-treatment in control group (p>0.05). There was no difference between two groups after 10 weeks (p>0.05).

Conclusions This study is an original study in terms of analyzing exercise-induced TNF-a and IL-6 relationship in OA patients of the knee. We concluded that BETY program did not cause negative effects in OA patients. BETY should be taken into consideration as a multidimensional exercise program for OA patients.

1. Zhang, S.L., Liu, H.Q., Xu, X.Z., Zhi, J., Geng, J.J. Effects of exercise therapy on knee joint function and synovial fluid cytokine levels in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Mol. Med. Report. 2013;(7):183–186.

2. Kisacik, P., Unal, E., Akman, U., Yapali, G., Karabulut, E., Akdogan, A. Investigating the effects of a multidimensional exercise program on symptoms and antiinflammatory status in female patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Comp Ther&Clin Pract 2016;(22):38–43.

Disclosure of Interest None declared