The Effect of Resistance Training on Physical Characteristics Hemarthrosis Joints

Resistance exercises improve muscle strength and joint's physical status. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of progressive resistive exercise on joint's physical characteristics and quality of life in hemarthrosis joint in severe haemophilic A patients.
Twenty-four severe haemophilia A patients (18-35 years old) with knee hemarthrosis, were assigned randomly to a resistance training (n=15) and control (n=12) groups. Resistance training group was required to perform six weeks trunk and lower limb exercises with low load and high repetition (40 min per session, three days per week). The control group was requested not to change their physical activity routines. Knee joint physical characteristics including joint range of motion (ROM), contracture, and crepitus were measured through Modified Colorado questionnaire and quality of life were investigated through SF-36 questionnaire before and after six weeks of training protocol.
six weeks resistance training significantly improved extension ROM (P=0.00), flexion contracture (P=0.02) and crepitus (P=0.03) in hemarthrosis knee joint compared to the control group. Quality of life also was significantly improved in the resistance training group compared to both the control group and baseline values (P=0.00).
Resistance training with low intensity and high repetition, can improve ROM, muscle strength, pain, and crepitus in hemarthrosis knee joint. This may be effective to improve the quality of life in hemarthrosis especially in patient with severe haemophilia A, in whom rebleeding is unavoidable.