Abstract
This retrospective
study explored the correlation between osteoarthrosis and post-activity symptom
relief and evaluated activity-optimizing nursing interventions in 60 patients
with osteoarthrosis. Patients were divided into responsive group (n=35, ≥50%
symptom reduction post-activity) and non-responsive group (n=25, <50%
reduction), with each group split into intervention (responsive: n=18;
non-responsive: n=13) and control (responsive: n=17; non-responsive: n=12)
subgroups. Intervention subgroups received activity-optimizing nursing
(individualized activity prescription, timing adjustment, intensity
modulation), while controls received routine care. Primary outcomes included
correlation between osteoarthrosis severity (Kellgren-Lawrence grade) and
relief duration and post-intervention relief maintenance rate at 12 weeks.
Secondary outcomes included pain visual analog scale (VAS) change, joint
stiffness duration and activity adherence rate. Results showed significant
negative correlation between Kellgren-Lawrence grade and relief duration
(r=-0.68, p<0.01). Intervention subgroups had higher maintenance rate
(responsive: 83.3% vs 47.1%; non-responsive: 61.5% vs 25.0%, p<0.05).
Activity-optimizing nursing enhances post-activity relief in osteoarthrosis patients,
particularly those with mild-to-moderate disease.
Keywords: Osteoarthrosis; post-activity symptom relief; Kellgren-lawrence
grade; Mild-to-moderate disease
Introduction
Post-activity symptom
relief is a distinctive feature in 40-50% of osteoarthrosis patients,
characterized by reduced pain and stiffness after moderate activity due to
improved joint lubrication and muscle warming1. However, this phenomenon diminishes with disease
progression, as severe joint damage leads to activity-induced exacerbation
rather than relief2. This study investigates the
osteoarthrosis-post-activity relief association and evaluates nursing
interventions to optimize this effect, addressing the lack of personalized
activity protocols3.
Methods
Study design and
participants
Retrospective analysis of 60 patients with
radiographically confirmed osteoarthrosis (knee: 42 cases, hip: 18 cases).
Inclusion criteria: age 45-80 years; Kellgren-Lawrence grade I-IV; ability to
perform basic activities. Responsive group defined as ≥50% reduction in VAS
pain within 30 minutes post-activity (walking 500m). Exclusion criteria:
inflammatory arthritis, severe cardiovascular diseases and joint replacement
history.
Grouping & interventions
Control subgroups: Routine care (general
activity advice, pain assessment).
Intervention subgroups:
Added activity-optimizing interventions:
• Individualized activity prescription: Tailored to joint type (knee: cycling; hip: swimming) and baseline function.
• Timing adjustment: Scheduling activities during peak stiffness periods (morning for 72% of patients) to maximize relief.
• Intensity modulation: Starting with 5-minute warm-up, maintaining Borg scale 3-4 (moderate exertion) and 5-minute cool-down.
• Symptom monitoring: Teaching patients to track relief duration/intensity via mobile app logs.
Outcome measures
• Primary: Correlation between Kellgren-Lawrence grade and initial relief duration; 12-week relief maintenance rate.
• Secondary: VAS pain change (0-10), morning stiffness duration (mins) and weekly activity adherence (≥5 sessions/week).
Statistical analysis
SPSS 26.0 used for
Pearson correlation, χ² tests and independent t-tests. p<0.05 was
significant.
Results
Osteoarthrosis-post-activity relief relationship and
baseline data
Significant negative
correlation between Kellgren-Lawrence grade and relief duration (r=-0.68,
p<0.01). Responsive group had lower initial Kellgren-Lawrence grade (Table
1).
Table 1: Baseline
Characteristics
|
Characteristics |
Responsive Group (n=35) |
Non-Responsive Group (n=25) |
p-value |
|
Age (years, x̄±s) |
62.3±8.5 |
64.1±7.9 |
0.41 |
|
Male gender, n(%) |
19(54.3) |
13(52.0) |
0.87 |
|
Affected joint (knee/hip) |
25/10 |
17/8 |
0.83 |
|
Kellgren-Lawrence grade (x̄±s) |
1.8±0.7 |
3.1±0.8 |
<0.001 |
|
Initial VAS (pre-activity, x̄±s) |
6.2±1.4 |
6.5±1.3 |
0.45 |
|
Relief duration (mins, x̄±s) |
42.5±11.3 |
12.8±7.6 |
<0.001 |
|
Morning stiffness (mins, x̄±s) |
38.2±10.5 |
41.3±11.2 |
0.32 |
Primary outcome
Severity association: Each 1-grade increase
in Kellgren-Lawrence grade correlated with 18.2-minute reduction in relief
duration (p<0.001).
Intervention effect: Intervention subgroups showed higher
maintenance rate (Table 2).
|
Group |
Intervention |
Control |
p-value |
|
Responsive Group (n=35) |
15/18(83.3%) |
8/17(47.1%) |
0.016 |
|
Non-Responsive Group (n=25) |
8/13(61.5%) |
3/12(25.0%) |
0.042 |
Secondary outcomes
Intervention subgroups
demonstrated greater improvements in all secondary measures (Table 3).
Table 3: Secondary Outcomes at
12 Weeks
|
Outcome |
Responsive Group |
Non-Responsive Group |
p-value (intervention effect) |
|
VAS reduction (post-pre, x̄±s) |
Intervention:4.8±1.1 |
Intervention:2.3±0.9 |
<0.001 |
|
|
Control:2.6±1.0 |
Control:1.1±0.8 |
- |
|
Stiffness duration reduction (mins) |
Intervention:28.5±8.3 |
Intervention:15.2±7.1 |
<0.001 |
|
|
Control:14.2±7.5 |
Control:6.8±5.3 |
- |
|
Activity adherence, n(%) |
Intervention:16(88.9%) |
Intervention:10(76.9%) |
0.038 |
|
|
Control:9(52.9%) |
Control:5(41.7%) |
- |
Discussion
This study confirms
post-activity relief is inversely correlated with osteoarthrosis severity,
consistent with preserved joint mobility in mild disease allowing beneficial
lubrication and muscle activation4. The 3.3-fold
longer relief duration in the responsive group aligns with data that severe
joint space narrowing impairs mechanical benefit from activity5.
Activity-optimizing
interventions enhanced relief through personalized prescription-matching
activity type to joint biomechanics maximized chondrocyte nutrient diffusion6. Timing adjustments
capitalized on diurnal rhythm of joint fluid viscosity, while intensity
modulation prevented overloading7. Notably, 61.5% of
non-responsive intervention patients achieved partial relief, suggesting even
severe cases benefit from optimized activity8.
Limitations include
reliance on self-reported relief and lack of objective joint fluid analysis.
Future studies should measure synovial fluid viscosity changes post-activity.
Conclusion
Osteoarthrosis severity inversely
correlates with post-activity symptom relief. Activity-optimizing nursing
interventions effectively enhance relief maintenance, reduce pain/stiffness and
improve adherence, with efficacy across disease stages. These strategies are
critical for leveraging the therapeutic potential of activity in osteoarthrosis
management.
References
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