Physical exercise in treatment of osteoarticular diseases - Abstract

Objective. To analyze the infl uence of regular exercise on the consumption of drugs prescribed for osteoarticular diseases in the over 65-year-olds.

Method. A retrospective, case-control study, with 4 years of monitoring, 1 control per year, n = 50 (age: 69.90 ± 4.01 and body mass index (BMI) 28.04 ± 1.23 kg/m2), control group (group C) (n = 25) sedentary (age: 70.08 ± 4.27 and BMI 29.01 ± 1.26 kg/m2) and exercise group (group E) (n = 25) active (age: 69.72 ± 3.81 and BMI 26.93 ± 1.18 kg/m2).

Results. The number of drugs consumed per day increased gradually in group C (p < 0.005) but not in group E (p = 0.076). Treatment cost increased in group C (p < 0.05) but not in group E (p > 0.05). Comparison between the costs of medicines for both groups was signifi cant in all controls except for the fi rst (p = 0.117). Consumption of medicines for osteoporosis increased in group C (p = 0.008), antirheumatics (p = 0.001) and analgesics + non-steroid anti-infl ammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (p = 0.001), and did not increase in group E (osteoporosis drug p = 0.072, antirheumatic p = 0.392 and analgesics + NSAIDs (p = 0.128). The consumption cost of osteoporosis drugs increased in group C (p < 0.05) and did not increase in E (p > 0.05), as with antirheumatic drugs. Consumption of analgesics + NSAIDs in group C increased (p < 0.05) while it remained stable in group E in the second and third controls (p > 0.05) and decreased in the fourth (p < 0.05).

Conclusions. Regular exercise might moderate the increase in drug consumption for the treatment of osteoarticular diseases in the over 65-year-olds.