- Sustained Improvement: The “Plants for Joints” program maintained significant pain and function benefits in osteoarthritis patients two years post-intervention.
- Medication Reduction: Over half of participants who completed the study reduced or stopped their pain medication.
- Health Markers: Participants showed lasting improvements in weight, blood glucose, waist circumference, and diastolic blood pressure.
The “Plants for Joints” lifestyle intervention has demonstrated significant long-term benefits for osteoarthritis patients, sustaining improvements in pain, stiffness, and physical function two years after the initial 16-week program.
This multidisciplinary approach, incorporating a whole-food plant-based diet, physical activity, and stress management, has proven effective in reducing reliance on pain medication and enhancing overall quality of life.
Two-Year Follow-Up Confirms Long-Term Benefits of Plant-Based Lifestyle Intervention for Osteoarthritis
Participants also experienced lasting improvements in several health markers, including weight, fasting blood glucose, waist circumference, and diastolic blood pressure. Despite some limitations, such as the study’s unblinded nature and dropout rates, these findings highlight the potential of lifestyle modifications as a sustainable and effective strategy for managing osteoarthritis symptoms over the long term.
Participants in the study experienced notable reductions in their Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores, indicating lasting relief from osteoarthritis symptoms. These improvements were maintained across both completers and those who dropped out during the follow-up.
The intervention also led to significant health benefits beyond pain relief. Participants saw lasting improvements in weight, fasting blood glucose, waist circumference, and diastolic blood pressure. However, changes in HbA1c and LDL cholesterol were not sustained over the two-year period.
Despite some study limitations, including an unblinded design and a notable dropout rate, the findings underscore the potential of lifestyle modifications as a sustainable and effective approach for managing osteoarthritis. Future research is expected to include a cost-effectiveness analysis of the program.
The “Plants for Joints” lifestyle intervention demonstrates that a structured program incorporating a whole-food plant-based diet, physical activity, and stress management can yield significant, long-lasting benefits for osteoarthritis patients, improving pain, physical function, and overall health markers up to two years post-intervention. These findings highlight the promise of lifestyle modifications as a sustainable approach to managing osteoarthritis
