Sport bei (trotz) Arthrose

The proportion of patients with symptomatic arthrosis is increasing due to the higher life expectancy and aging population - hence, against the background of smaller financial resources in health systems the demand for cost-effective therapy emerges. Patients suffering from hip or knee joint arthrosis show pre- and post-operatively considerable deficits in strength, endurance, and coordination as well as in their cardiopulmonary capacities. They are in a vicious circle which results in decreasing joint mobility, reduced muscle strength, and further weight gain which, in turn, increases the stress on the joint and thereby fosters the progress of the disease even more. Thus, complementary to postoperative rehabilitation, a long-term exercise plan should be implemented in the patients' everyday routine. This is because various studies investigating a hip and knee exercise concept were able to unveil positive effects in strength endurance, joint mobility, and health related quality of life. The concept of hip and knee exercise groups integrates social, pedagogical, and motor-functional aspects and offers a great opportunity for patients to start being active and to stay active on a long-term basis. It is desirable to establish these cost-effective and target-oriented exercise groups as part of the secondary prevention of arthrosis across the whole nation, similar to coronary sport groups.