Author(s): MAURI, C., GRAZIOLI, E., CERULLI, C., PARISI, A., Institution: UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI ROMA FORO ITALICO, Country: ITALY, Abstract-ID: 1726

INTRODUCTION:
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common musculoskeletal rheumatic disease. Its disabling condition, characterised mainly by pain and functional limitations, has serious implications on patients’ quality of life and health national service [1]. Exercise is the main non-pharmacological treatment to reduce pain, increase patients functional capacity and quality of life, and protocols with a high proprioceptive component seem to be the most effective [2]. Gyrokinesis®, which could be defined as sensorimotor training, is an innovative and relatively new method that due to its proprioceptive component could be effective in reducing OA related symptoms.
METHODS:
20 patients affected by OA were enrolled (mean age 57,5 ± 7) and assigned to an exercise group (EG=10) that underwent a 12-week Gyrokinesis® training protocol, and a control group (CG=10) that followed the standard care. The primary outcome was to analyse the effect of the Gyrokinesis® training protocol on perceived pain, through Brief Pain Inventory Questionnaire. As a secondary outcome, functional parameters (Postural Sway, Step Test, 30” Sit to Stand Test, TUG, Stair Climb, Trunk Rotation, Scratch test, Sit and Reach), body composition and kinesiophobia were analysed too. Subjects were evaluated at baseline (T0) and after the 12-week intervention (T1).
RESULTS:
Preliminary results on the EG group showed that after 12 weeks of intervention, perceived pain showed a statistically significant reduction between T0 and T1, from 4 (CI 95% 2.57 - 5.42) to 1.25 (0.24 - 2.27) with p=0.007; functional parameters also showed a statistically significant improvement for the postural sway, Step Test, 30" Sit-To-Stand Test, Tug, Stair Climb, Trunk Rotation, Scratch Test, Sit And Reach (with p<0.05). Kinesiophobia also showed a significant reduction after 12 weeks of training (p=0.009).
CONCLUSION:
Sensorimotor training with the Gyrokinesis® method could be effective in reducing pain symptoms, functional limitations and kinesiophobia levels in patients with OA. The present is a pilot study, so further studies are needed to understand how this type of training can help the therapeutic treatment of these patients.