South London arthritis patients
take part in major study
UP to 450 people in south London with osteoarthritis of the knee will be encouraged to change their lifestyles and take more exercise, as part of a major new research project.
If the project proves to be successful, it could be used as a blueprint for arthritis patients all over the country.
Dr Mike Hurley, who works at Dulwich Hospital, part of King's Healthcare Trust, has been awarded a grant of almost £½m by medical research charity the Arthritis Research Campaign to fund a project into osteoarthritis of the knee.
Dr Hurley has been awarded a prestigious ARC Post Doctoral Fellowship of £428,000 – double the amount of any previous award made by the charity. It is also the first time such a grant has been made to a physiotherapist – usually the fellowships are awarded to scientists.
The community-based research will investigate the effectiveness of a rehabilitation package which involves exercise of the leg muscles, self-help advice and coping strategies. Dr Hurley will compare this approach to that of a typical GP, who generally prescribes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. If the rehabilitation package is successful, it could become available to patients with osteoarthritis of the knee all over the country.
Up to 450 people from south London aged 50 and upward who have osteoarthritis of the knee will be recruited by Dr Hurley for his five-year study.
All the patients will take part in 12 half-hour exercise sessions – including strength, balance and co-ordination on a bike and other simple equipment – at Dulwich Hospital and in community centres in Southwark and Lambeth. They will be followed up at nine-monthly episodes for a two-and-a half-year period.
As well as the exercise, they will be given plenty of sensible self-help advice such as keeping their weight down and combating depression.
"It's difficult because we are trying to give people lifestyle changes, but our experience is that one they start to feel the benefits of exercise, they become willing to help themselves; they don't like relying on tablets," said Dr Hurley. "The only way these patients will be helped in the long-term is by encouragement and reinforcement, so the follow-up sessions are obviously important."
