In Osteoarthritis, the Psychosocial Benefits of Exercise Are as Important as Physiological Improvements

In Brief HURLEY, M. V., H. L. MITCHELL, and N. WALSH. In osteoarthritis, the psychosocial benefits of exercise are as important as physiological improvements. Exerc. Sport Sci. Rev., Vol. 31, No. 3, pp. 138–143, 2003. Exercise has a major role in the management of osteoarthritis, effecting well-documented physiological improvements on muscle function. However, exercise also has lasting benefits on the complex psychosocial sequelae of osteoarthritis—facilitating appropriate health beliefs, behaviors, pain coping, and self-management strategies—that are as important as its physiological effects. Regular exercise provides meaningful, lasting benefits on the physiological and psychosocial sequelae in people with osteoarthritis.