Background
Exercise has been reported to be beneficial in reducing pain and fatigue, as well as improving mood, in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). However, long bouts of exercise have been linked to an increase in fatigue and pain level in elderly adults. Currently, there are very few investigations into the immediate effects of breaking exercise into shorter and frequent bouts, otherwise known as exercise snacking on physical fatigue, mood, and pain in elderly adults with KOA. The aim of this study was to investigate the immediate impact of exercise snacking versus continuous exercise on physical fatigue, mood, and pain level in elderly adults with KOA.
Methods
This was a randomized experimental study, with 37 participants aged 60 years and above with KOA. Participants were recruited and randomly assigned into a five bouts of 2-min exercise snacking and 10-min continuous exercise groups, with the bicycle ergometer as the exercise mode. Physical fatigue, mood, and pain of participants were assessed at baseline and immediately after the exercise using Numerical Fatigue Rating Scale (NFRS), Visual Analog Mood Scale (VAMS), and Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) respectively. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics of Wilcoxon Rank test, Mann–Whitney U, and ANCOVA were used to analyze the data with p value set at 0.05.
Results
There were significant differences (p < 0.001) in physical fatigue, mood, and pain between baseline and post-intervention values within groups. Between-group comparisons revealed significant reductions in physical fatigue (p < 0.001) and pain levels (p = 0.048) in the exercise snacking group compared to the continuous exercise group. However, no significant between-group differences were found for mood.
Conclusion
Exercise snacking yielded significant improvements in physical fatigue and pain in elderly with KOA. However, both exercise snacking and continuous aerobic exercise were comparable in their immediate effects on mood in elderly adults with KOA.
Trial registration
PACTR202308724795310 Registered 28th September 2023, https://www.edctp.org/pan-african-clinical-trials-registry/.
