Table 1.
Frequency of Self-Management Behaviors, by Osteoarthritis Severity
| Mild–mild OA | Severe OA | |
|---|---|---|
| Exercises/activities, % | ||
| Lifestyle change to include exercise | 12.0 | 9.1 |
| Recreational activities to burn calories | 0.4 | 0.3 |
| Exercise without equipment | 35.5 | 39.7 |
| Exercise with equipment | 6.0 | 9.5 |
| Exercise, 2+ | 9.0 | 12.6 |
| Weight/diet control, % | ||
| Lose weight | 2.1 | 0.6 |
| Reduce intake of harmful ingredients | 2.1 | 0.6 |
| Avoid certain foods/drinks | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Add vegetables/fruits/juices | 0.9 | 1.6 |
| Add healthy ingredients | 1.3 | 1.9 |
| Daily activity/movement, % | ||
| Change activities | 42.7 | 47.0 |
| Avoid activities | 59.8 | 64.0 |
| Adopt new activities | 62.4 | 70.7* |
| Activity change, 2+ | 58.5 | 63.7 |
| Heat and cold treatment, % | ||
| Heat treatment | 23.5 | 19.6 |
| Cold treatment | 0.9 | 0.6 |
| Dietary supplements, % | 2.6 | 3.5 |
| Natural remedies, % | 3.4 | 2.8 |
| Relaxation techniques, % | 18.4 | 21.5 |
| Ointment/salves, % | 6.0 | 10.7* |
| Optimal self-management, % (exercise 2+, activity 2+, heat) | 20.1 | 18.6 |
n=551
*
p<.05