Assessment and monitoring
When prescribing exercise for people with hip/knee osteoarthritis, clinicians should undertake a comprehensive baseline assessment of the individual, with regular follow-up for monitoring of response to exercise. :
OARSI Rehabilitation Discussion Group expert recommendations state that clinicians should:
- Undertake a comprehensive baseline assessment to fully understand the individual’s reported difficulties, physical limitations, functional restrictions and impact on participation, as well as any relevant psychosocial factors.
- Check for red flags (indicating serious underlying pathology) and ensure that there are no contraindications to exercise.
- Evaluate the individual’s overall health (including comorbidities) and use this information to identify exercise precautions.
- Establish baseline measurements and set targets to determine progress.
- Monitor the individual’s response to the exercise program over time.
Resources and tools for assessment and monitoring
Below, you can find a useful selection of free resources and tools available on the web to assist you with assessing and monitoring of people with hip/knee osteoarthritis. Resources were assessed and selected based on their relevance for arthritis and the context of exercise, whether the information was factual and accurate, whether the source/author was reliable, the accessibility and clarity of the content, and whether the resource has been updated recently. Are are you aware of other useful resources that aren’t listed here? Click here to let us know.
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Adult pre-exercise screening system tool
Screening tool to identify people at higher risk of an adverse event with exercise
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Pre-participation health screening algorithm
American College of Sports Medicine advice for when to seek medical clearance to exercise
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Performance-based physical function measures (functional tests)
Osteoarthritis Research Society International core set of physical performance measures (functional tests)
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Performance-based physical function via telehealth
Testing manual for telehealth administration of common physical performance measures (functional tests)
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Simple pain rating scales
An example of a numerical pain rating scale that can be used in clinical practice
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Exercise logbook
An exercise logbook to help monitor adherence to exercise programs
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Versus Arthritis: arthritis tracker app
A free app by Versus Arthritis designed to help people with arthritis track their daily symptoms and more
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Osteoarthritis knowledge scale
An outcome measure to evaluate knowledge about hip or knee osteoarthritis based on international consensus
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Arthritis and exercise: the essentials
Arthritis Australia doc about exercise for arthritis, with tools and outcome measures
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Osteoarthritis tool
A flow chart that has info about assessment, including functional performance-based tests by the Arthritis Alliance of Canada and Centre for Effective Practice
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OACareTools
The Osteoarthritis Action Alliance Toolbox with various clinician tools, including information about assessing patients (e.g., functional assessment)
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Does this patient have hip osteoarthritis?
A video from JAMA Network on objective assessment and diagnosis of hip
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Functional assessments list for knee & hip osteoarthritis
The Osteoarthritis Action Alliance poster overview of recommended patient reported outcomes and functional tests
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Osteoarthritis pain assessment and monitoring
The Osteoarthritis Learning Center toolkit with multiple resources, including infographic summarising how to assess patients with osteoarthritis
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Keele University osteoarthritis resources
Repository of various resources including professional development resources and training for various clinicians (e.g. General practitioners, Physios), including assessing, diagnosing, and monitoring patients
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Objective assessment of knee osteoarthritis
Video from Versus Arthritis on objective assessment