THE EFFECTS OF NORDIC WALKING COMPARED TO REGULAR WALKING ON PAIN AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS

Paper ID : 1073-SPORTCONGRESS

Authors

Sosan Panjalizad *1, sosan pangalizad2, farzane gandomi3 1ندارم 2دانشجو 3professor

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic joint pain such as knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and its inadequate management can reduce cognitive function. Nordic walking is a specific type of walking using two light poles that can significantly improve lower limb muscle strength. Considering the vicious cycle of knee joint pain-decreased quadriceps muscle activity-more pressure on the joint and further cartilage destruction and worsening of the patient's pain, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of Nordic walking compared to conventional walking on pain and cognitive function in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: In this study, 45 women with knee osteoarthritis who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to one of the Nordic walking (N=15), regular walking (N=15), and control (N=15) groups. The Nordic walking and regular walking groups underwent three one-hour sessions per week for six weeks. Before and after the interventions, study variables including pain intensity with the visual analogue scale (VAS) and cognitive function with the MOCA questionnaire were assessed by a blinded evaluator. Between-group and within-group comparisons were analyzed with SPSS version 27 software and with the 3 x 2 mixed methods (group by time) statistical method at a significance level of 0.05. Results: Between-group comparisons showed that after six weeks of intervention, a significant interaction effect was observed between the Nordic walking and regular walking groups for the variables of pain intensity and cognitive function (p>0.05). Between group comparisons showed that there were significant differences between both Nordic and regular walking with control, however there was not significant difference between experimental groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: According to the results obtained from the present study, Nordic walking and regular walking can be equally effective in reducing pain intensity and improving cognitive function in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Keywords

Osteoarthritis, knee joint, elderly, Nordic walking, pain, cognitive function.

Status: Abstract Accepted (Poster Presentation)