The effect of walking on cardiorespiratory fitness in adults with knee osteoarthritis

Walking programs alone or in combination with behavioral interventions have proven effective at improving quality of life among older adults with osteoarthritis (OA). It is unclear, however, whether the combination of both of these treatments is more effective at improving cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults with knee OA than a walking program alone or than unsupervised self-directed walking. In this study, we assessed cardiorespiratory fitness with 3 programs: a structured supervised community-based aerobic walking program with a behavioral intervention (WB; n = 41); a supervised program of walking only (W; n = 42); and an unsupervised self-directed walking program (n = 32). We measured maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak), exercise test duration, and workload, heart rate, and ventilation at maximum aerobic capacity in older adults with knee OA after 6 months of WB, W, or self-directed walking. Overall, V̇O2peak improved by 4% in female walkers (+0.9 ± 2.5 mL O2·kg(-1)·min(-1); p < 0.001) and 5% in male walkers (+1.3 ± 2.7 mL O2·kg(-1)·min(-1); p < 0.001), and the change in fitness was similar with all 3 walking interventions. In conclusion, low- to moderate-intensity walking may improve and (or) prevent decrements in cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults with OA. This response was comparable in supervised walkers with and without a behavioral intervention and in unsupervised self-directed walkers.