Table 4

Summary of recommendations for future research studies examining the relationship between physical activity and the risk for developing knee OA

Recommendation

Details

1

There is evidence to indicate the importance of investigating the role of the following factors when examining the relationship between physical activity and knee joint health: age, sex, body mass index and body composition, muscle strength, varus-valgus alignment and external knee adductor moment, and injury history

2

The measurement tool employed to assess knee OA must be valid, reliable and sensitive to change among healthy and OA populations

3

Instruments for the measurement of physical activity must be reliable and valid, and able to assess accurately the type, frequency, intensity and duration of activity

OA, osteoarthritis.

Urquhart et al. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2008 10:203   doi:10.1186/ar2343