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Hip and knee osteoarthritis are associated with functional limitations, pain and restrictions in quality of life and the ability to work. Furthermore, with growing prevalence, osteoarthritis is increasingly causing in direct costs. Guidelines recommend exercise therapy and education as primary treatment strategies. Available options for treatment based on physical activity promotion and lifestyle change are often insufficiently provided and used.
In addition, the quality of current exercise programmes often does not meet the changing care needs of older people with comorbidities and exercise adherence is a challenge beyond personal physiotherapy. This study is designed as a multicentre randomized controlled trial with a target sample size of patients. The intervention is based on the e-Exercise intervention from the Netherlands, consists of a training and education programme and is conducted as a blended care intervention over 12 months.
We use an app to support independent training and the development of self-management skills. The primary and secondary hypotheses are that participants in the SmArt-E intervention will have less pain numerical rating scale and better physical functioning Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score compared to participants in the usual care group after 12 and 3 months.
The study will be accompanied by a process evaluation. After a positive evaluation, SmArt-E can be offered in usual care, flexibly addressing different care situations.
