Patient Education Program for Osteoarthritis With Exercise Included (PEPOA-E)

• Arthritis self-efficacy scale [ Time Frame: at baseline ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Measure the patients self-efficacy
• One-leg rising from sitting to standing [ Time Frame: at baseline ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  measure the strength
• Grip Ability Test [ Time Frame: at baseline ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Measure function of the hand
• QuickDash [ Time Frame: at baseline ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Measure self-percieved function of the arm/hand
• Arthritis self-efficacy scale [ Time Frame: after 4 month ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Measure the patients self-efficacy
• One leg rising from sitting to standing [ Time Frame: after 4 month ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  measure the strength
• Grip Ability Test [ Time Frame: after 4 month ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Measure function of the hand
• QuickDash [ Time Frame: after 4 month ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Measure self-percieved function of the arm/hand

• Bipedal rising from sitting to standing [ Time Frame: at baseline ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Measure the strength
• One-legged jump [ Time Frame: at baseline ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  measure strength and balance
• Standing on one leg with eyes open and standing on one leg with eyes closed [ Time Frame: at baseline ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Measure the balance
• Jamar [ Time Frame: at baseline ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Measure the handstrength
• PinchGauge [ Time Frame: at baseline ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Measure the fingers strength
• EQ5D [ Time Frame: at baseline ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Measure self-percieved health
• Bipedal rising from sitting to standing [ Time Frame: after 4 month ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  measure the strength
• One-legged jump [ Time Frame: after 4 month ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  measure strength and balance
• Standing on one leg with eyes open and standing on one leg with eyes closed [ Time Frame: after 4 month ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  measure the balance
• Jamar [ Time Frame: after 4 month ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Measure the handstrength
• PinchGauge [ Time Frame: after 4 month ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Measure the fingers strength
• EQ5D [ Time Frame: after 4 month ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Measure self-percieved health

The purpose of this study is to investigate if inclusion of exercise in an education program for patients with osteoarthritis can improve self efficacy, self-perceived health and function.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease, considered to be one of the major national diseases that cause suffering for affected patients and costs for society.The predominant symptoms are pain, stiffness and impaired quality of life, often together with psychological distress. Treatment often consists of medication. Later in the disease, when the joint is destroyed, joint replacement surgery commonly occurs. Physical exercises aimed to increase muscle strength, endurance, proprioception and stability have proved to influence cartilage as well as function, symptoms and quality of life positively. Physical exercise may also reduce the need for hospital care after knee joint replacement.Research suggests that patient education is feasible and valuable in terms of improvements in quality of life, in function, in well-being and improved coping . Accordingly, guidelines recommend education and exercise as a core treatment for osteoarthritis.

Since 1994, Primary Health Care in Malmö has used a patient education programme directed towards OA.The program does not include exercise. In 2007-09 a study was made to investigate this education program.The study showed improvements in self-perceived health and in a few functional tests but not in self-efficacy.

• Other: Exercise in a group
  The patient do their individual exercise program in a group.
• Other: Home exercise
  The patient exercise their individual program at home during 6 v.

• Experimental: Home exercise
  The patients is training at home during 6 v. with an individual exercise program.
  Intervention: Other: Home exercise
• Experimental: Exercise in group
  The patients is doing their individual exercise program in a group.
  Intervention: Other: Exercise in a group

Inclusion Criteria:

• Clinical diagnosis of osteoarthritis

Exclusion Criteria:

• Must be able to speak and understand swedish