The article titled “Comparison of Single and Combined Treatment with Exercise Therapy and Collagen Supplementation on Early Knee Arthritis among Athletes—A Quasi-Randomized Trial,” authored by Vijayakumar Palaniswamy and colleagues, investigates the effectiveness of exercise therapy, collagen supplementation, and their combination in treating early osteoarthritis (EOA) of the knee in recreational athletes.
MDPI
Study Design and Methods:
The study involved 48 recreational athletes diagnosed with EOA, who were assigned to one of three groups:
Collagen Supplementation (Col): Participants received oral collagen supplements.
Exercise Therapy (Ex): Participants engaged in a structured exercise program.
Combined Collagen and Exercise (ColEx): Participants received both collagen supplements and participated in the exercise program.
Each intervention lasted 12 weeks. Assessments were conducted at baseline, and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks, measuring:
Pain: Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores.
Range of Motion (ROM): Knee flexion ROM.
Strength: Knee flexor and extensor strength.
Function: Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS).
Key Findings:
Pain Reduction: All groups experienced significant reductions in pain over the 12 weeks, with no significant differences between groups.
Range of Motion: The ColEx group showed a significant improvement in knee flexion ROM compared to the Ex group at 12 weeks.
Strength and Function: Both the Ex and ColEx groups exhibited significant improvements in knee strength and KOOS scores at 12 weeks.
Conclusion:
The study concluded that exercise therapy alone effectively reduces pain and enhances strength and function in individuals with EOA. The addition of collagen supplementation further improved knee ROM and function, suggesting that combining exercise therapy with collagen supplementation may offer superior benefits for athletes with early knee arthritis.
