Core muscle strengthening exercises in the management of hip osteoarthritis: outcomes of a 12-week programme

Osteoarthritis (OA) is caused by the destruction of the joint cartilage. Programmes based on quadriceps strengthening are now evidence-based but recently more importance is being given to optimal core stability. This study aimed at exploring the effects of a 12-week core exercise programme on pain and functional levels in patients with hip OA. A randomised controlled trial was carried out, with 60 participants randomly allocated into 3 groups. Participants in the control group received no intervention, whereas the others performed hip and hip and core exercises for a period of 12 weeks. All participants were assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Western Ontario McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), 6 min Walk Test (6MWT), muscle testing and core stability at baseline and on completion of the 12-week exercise programme. Ethical approval was obtained from the University of Malta’s Faculty Research Ethics Committee REC FORM V_15062020 6302 and ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04771936 Statistically significant improvements for participants in the hip and core exercise group were obtained in the 6MWT (<i>p</i> = .001), NPRS (<i>p</i> = .009), WOMAC (<i>p</i> = .005), core stability (<i>p</i> = .001). Participants enrolled in the hip exercise group also had significant improvements, in the 6MWD (<i>p</i> &lt; .001); NPRS (<i>p</i> = .035) and WOMAC (<i>p</i> &lt; .001) but not Core stability(<i>p</i> = .704). Participants in the control group registered no changes. A 12-week exercise programme resulted in clinical and statistically significant improvements, ones mostly pronounced in the hip and core exercise group.