OBJECTIVES: To explore whether compliance with a prescribed home exercise program in elderly people with knee and/or hip osteoarthritis was influenced by mode of exercise instruction. DESIGN: Participants were randomised to one of three groups who received different modes of exercise instruction. Exercise performance was assessed at baseline and after 4 weeks and 8 weeks of home exercises. SETTING: Eighteen physiotherapy clinics in rural Victoria, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and fifteen males and females (mean age 70.5 years) with osteoarthritis of the knees and/or hips. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomised to receive verbal instructions on a home exercise program in addition to: (i) a home exercise brochure; (ii) a brochure together with an audiotape; or (iii) a brochure together with a videotape. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The Correctness of Exercise Performance scale and exercise log-sheets. RESULTS: Compliance with the home exercise program was good for all modes of exercise instruction where between 79% and 91% of exercises were performed correctly. Once provided with verbal instructions together with illustrated brochures, the provision of additional videotapes or audiotapes did not further enhance outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Older people with osteoarthritis who received face-to-face instructions and a brochure on how to perform and comply with an 8-week home exercise program did not show additional benefits from other modes of instruction.

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