THURSDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Resistance training improves muscle strength and physical functioning while decreasing pain in many people with knee osteoarthritis, a new report says.

A research team, lead by the University of Sydney, analyzed previously conducted trials on knee osteoarthritis and resistance training -- which included resistance machines, free weights, isometric exercise and other devices such as elastic bands. The majority of these studies, they found, reported that symptoms, physical function and strength were improved with resistance training.

More than half of the studies reported a decrease in self-reported pain, and 79 percent found self-reported mobility improved following resistance training. Progressive resistance training was also tied to an overall increase in physical activity levels.

The study was published in the October issue of Arthritis Care & Research.

More information

The Arthritis Foundation has more about osteoarthritis  .

TUESDAY, Sept. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Adding occupational therapy to a structured exercise program increases physical activity for most people who have hip and knee osteoarthritis, say researchers.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that leads to the breakdown of the cartilage in joints. In people with osteoarthritis, exercise helps maintain good joint health, manage symptoms and prevent functional decline.

But studies have shown that the benefits of a structured exercise program are short-lived. The beneficial effects usually fade soon after participation in the program ends.

In a study in the October issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, researchers investigated whether occupational therapy could benefit people with hip and knee osteoarthritis.

The occupational therapy program in this study was designed to educate osteoarthritis patients about joint protection, proper body mechanisms, activity pacing, and environmental barriers.

The participants of the current study were divided into two groups. The first group participated in a structured exercise program and the occupational therapy program. The second group participated in the same exercise program, but received health education in place of the occupational therapy.

Only the group that engaged in occupational therapy increased the intensity of physical activity at the end of the study.

"Occupational therapy is really the missing link in promoting wellness of people with hip and knee osteoarthritis," study author Susan L. Murphy, an assistant professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Michigan Medical School and Research Health Science Specialist at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, said in a university news release.

Murphy points out that more research is necessary to study the effects of occupational therapy in larger groups of people with osteoarthritis and to determine the long-term effects of the therapy.

But Murphy says that people with osteoarthritis should strive to expand their daily physical activity and improve their overall health behaviors.

"People with osteoarthritis tend to know more about surgical options, and less about how they can take an active role in promoting their own health and well-being," she said. "People with osteoarthritis need to be their own agents of change. They can do so much to manage symptoms and stave off functional decline caused by osteoarthritis just by being physically active. The bottom line is to find out ways to help people create and maintain these healthy habits."

More information

The American Occupational Therapy Association has more about occupational therapy and arthritis  .

SATURDAY, Sept. 27 (HealthDay News) -- People who play football and other fall sports are at increased risk for lower extremity injuries and need to take precautions to protect themselves, says the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA).

"Stress fractures of the foot, ankle sprains and ligament injuries are all, unfortunately, quite common in popular fall sports such as football," Dr. David Davidson, podiatric medical consultant for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League, said in an APMA news release. "From maintaining proper conditioning to wearing sport-specific footwear, athletes can function at peak performance much more often when constantly maintaining high levels of footwear safety."

Sprains, fractures and turf toe are among the most common acute injuries suffered by people playing fall sports.

Sprains (stretched or torn ligaments) can be caused by hard sprinting. Prevention includes doing proper warm-up exercises before and after workouts, practices and games. Spend five to 10 minutes stretching, holding and relaxing muscles. Sprains that don't show improvement in three days should be looked at by a doctor. Treatment may include casting, immobilization and a rehabilitation program, the APMA said.

Casting, and sometimes surgery, is required to properly immobilize fractures and set breaks. It usually takes 10 to 12 weeks to recover. You can reduce your risk of stress fractures (incomplete fractures in bones typically caused by overuse) by wearing sport-specific footwear that contains extra padding.

Turf toe is a painful hyperextension of the big toe joint. Competing on artificial turf is the leading cause of this condition, but it can also occur on grass and other natural surfaces, the APMA said. Customized foot orthotics can help protect against turf toe and wearing a stiffer shoe can prevent further aggravation of the condition. Treatment of turf toe usually includes rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE).

More information

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons has more about foot and ankle injuries  .