Functional capacity of people with early osteoarthritis: a comparison between subjects from the cohort hip and cohort knee (CHECK) and healthy ageing workers

Abstract

ObjectiveThe prevalence of osteoarthritis (OA) increases, but the impact of the disorder on peoples’ functional capacity is not known. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare self-reported health status and functional capacity of subjects with early OA of hip and/or knee to reference data of healthy working subjects and to assess whether this capacity is sufficient to meet physical job demands.MethodsSelf-reported health status and functional capacity of 93 subjects from the Cohort Hip and Cohort Knee (CHECK) were measured using the Short-Form 36 Health Survey and 6 tests of the Work Well Systems Functional Capacity Evaluation. Results were compared with reference data from 275 healthy workers, using t-tests. To compare the functional capacity with job demands, the proportions of subjects with OA performing lower than the p5 of reference data were calculated.ResultsCompared to healthy workers, the subjects (mean age 56) from CHECK at baseline reported a significantly worse physical health status, whereas the women (n = 78) also reported a worse mental health status. On the FCE female OA subjects performed significantly lower than their healthy working counterparts on all 6 tests. Male OA subjects performed lower than male workers on 3 tests. A substantial proportion of women demonstrated functional capacities that could be considered insufficient to perform jobs with low physical demands.ConclusionsFunctional capacity and self-reported health of subjects with early OA of the hips and knees were worse compared to healthy ageing workers. A substantial proportion of female subjects did not meet physical job demands.

Trajectories of Physical Work Capacity in Early Symptomatic Osteoarthritis of Hip and Knee: Results from the Cohort Hip and Cohort Knee (CHECK) Study

“…The longitudinal analyses were performed on the results from 6 of the 22 tests that represent main aspects of physical job demands and the baseline data of which were presented earlier in a cross-sectional study on comparison with healthy workers [19]. The reliability of these tests has been established [26,27].…”

“…It has been tested for low back and upper extremity disorders, but the assumption was not confirmed [16]. A limited number of cross-sectional studies have been performed that analyze the physical work capacity of groups of people [17][18][19] but no longitudinal studies applying performance-based measurements are available. Studies with a longitudinal design are therefore necessary to analyze the course of OA and its impact on work capacity, and to identify (modifiable) predictors for this course.…”

Men and Women's Occupational Activities and the Risk of Developing Osteoarthritis of the Knee, Hip, or Hands: A Systematic Review and Recommendations for Future Research

“…Osteoarthritis (OA) ranks among the top 10 causes of disability world‐wide and is associated with significant pain, stiffness, fatigue, and activity limitations . Although medical treatment often occurs in later stages of the disease, early intervention is increasingly recognized as a critical unmet need.…”

Linear and Curvilinear Relationship between Knee Range of Motion and Physical Functioning in People with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Functional disability is a typical characteristic in people with knee osteoarthritis (OA) [1]. Over the years, numerous factors have been proposed as possible explanations for the level of functional disability in people with knee OA [2,3].…”