Level of participation in physical therapy or an internet-based exercise training program: associations with outcomes for patients with knee osteoarthritis

Megan Pignato, Liubov Arbeeva, Todd A. Schwartz, Leigh F. Callahan, Jennifer Cooke, Yvonne M. Golightly, Adam P. Goode, Bryan C. Heiderscheit, Carla Hill, Kim M. Huffman, Herbert H. Severson, Kelli D. Allen

To examine whether number of physical therapy (PT) visits or amount of use of an internet-based exercise training (IBET) program is associated with differential improvement in outcomes for participants with knee osteoarthritis (OA). A secondary analysis was performed using data from participants in 2 arms of a randomized control trial for individuals with symptomatic knee OA: PT (N = 135) or IBET (N = 124). We examined associations of number of PT visits attended (up to 8) or number of days the IBET website was accessed during the initial 4-month study period with changes in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) total, pain and function subscales, as well as a 2-min Step Test, at 4-month and 12-month follow-up. Participants with more PT visits experienced greater improvement in WOMAC total score (estimate per additional visit = - 1.18, CI 95% = - 1.91, 0.46, p <  0.001) and function subscore (estimate = - 0.80, CI 95% = - 1.33, - 0.28, p <  0.001) across follow-up periods. For WOMAC pain subscale, the association with number of PT visits varied significantly between 4- and 12-month follow-up, with a stronger relationship at 4-months. There was a non-significant trend for more PT visits to be associated with greater improvement in 2-min Step Test. More frequent use of the IBET website was not associated with greater improvement for any outcome, at either time point. Increased number of PT visits was associated with improved outcomes, and some of this benefit persisted 8 months after PT ended. This provides guidance for PT clinical practice and policies. NCT02312713 , posted 9/25/2015.