Comparing the Effect of 12 Weeks Bariatric and Aerobic Exercises on Metabolic Syndrome Indices in Women with Knee Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a frequent complication in the middle-aged or older people. Besides pain and swelling, this disease causes deformity and difficulty in walking. The current study compared the effects of 12 weeks bariatric and aerobic exercises on the metabolic syndrome in women with knee osteoarthritis. In this quasi-experimental study, 24 women with knee osteoarthritis were selected by convenience sampling method. They were randomly divided into two groups of the bariatric (n=12) and aerobic (n=12) exercises. The training included aerobic and bariatric exercises at 60%-65% rate of the heart rate reserve. The program included a 12-week training, performed three times per week and each session lasted for 30 to 60 minutes. Intra- and inter-group comparisons were performed by dependent t-test and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA), respectively. The level of significance was set at P<0.05. In both the aerobic and bariatric groups, 12 weeks of exercise program resulted in a significant reduction in weight, body mass index, serum glucose, insulin level, and insulin resistance index. Only in the aerobic exercise group, the concentrations of high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and total cholesterol significantly increased and decreased, respectively. The levels of triglyceride significantly decreased in both groups. Only in the aerobic exercise group, the maximum amount of oxygen consumption was significantly increased. In women with knee osteoarthritis, 12 weeks of aerobic and bariatric exercises positively affect the levels of insulin resistance markers, lipid profiles, and max-oxygen consumption. Therefore, these two exercise programs can be used to maintain health of these people.