Although no existing studies look at providing THC and FI to patients after TKR, Dr. Losina says she and her colleagues are planning a larger study with multiple centers to look at the potential challenge and efficacy of putting incentive programs in place.
“We know some employer groups have wellness programs that encourage their employees to be more physically active,” Dr. Losina says. “They report employees tend to be healthier and also less likely to [miss] work.”
For rheumatologists interested in implementing a THC/FI program within their own practices, Dr. Losina recommends they focus on measurable goals, such as having patients start slow and increase their exercise goals by 10% from the previous week. In addition, she cites the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines of performing moderate to vigorous exercise for 150 minutes a week.
“Once patients became acclimated to exercising on a regular basis, they maintained their physical activity for the six months we followed them,” Dr. Losina says. “We plan to do a future study on how long they were able to sustain their physical activity over a longer period of time.”
Linda Childers is a health writer located in the San Francisco Bay Area.
References
- Losina E, Collins JE, Deshpande BR, et al. Financial incentives and health coaching to improve physical activity following total knee replacement: A randomized controlled trial. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). May 2018;70(5):732–740.
- Patel MS, Asch DA, Rosin R, et al. Framing financial incentives to increase physical activity among overweight and obese adults: A randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 2016 Mar 15;164(6):385-394.