AIM: To compare the differences between effects of physiotherapy and combination of physiotherapy and preventive education on quality of life in patients with degenerative gonarthritis. METHODS: Thirty-five inpatients with degenerative gonarthritis in the Department of Rehabilitation, Third Affilicated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University from June 2001 to December 2004 were randomly selected. All participants took part in the experiment voluntarily and randomly divided into 2 groups: Observation group (n = 18) and control group (n = 17). (1) Patients in the observation group received preventive education at the base of physiotherapy according to the stage of inflammation. In early period of inflammation: rest; ice compress for 15 mins each time and 2 to 3 times each day; exercises for 2 to 3 times each day. In later period of inflammation: hot compress and washed with traditional Chinese medicine 2 to 3 times each day for 15 mins each time; electrotherapy, water therapy; exercise. Preventive method: performed at the same time of physiotherapy, aimed at relieving weight loading of knee joint including sitting instead of squatting, sitting high chair instead of sitting low chair, refrained from long time walking or standing. (2) Patients in the control group received physiotherapy without preventive education. Patients in both groups were treated for one month. Before the treatment and one month after the treatment, patients' quality of life were evaluated with arthritis impact measurement scale (including 8 items such as activity, physical work, dexterity degree, house work activity, social activities, normal living ability, pain and anxiety, the highest total score was 46 points and the lowest score was zero. The higher the total score, the poorer the quality of life). RESULTS: Thirty-five patients with degenerative gonarthritis were all involved in the analysis of results, no subject withdrew from the experiment. Comparison of scores in arthritis impact measurement scale in both groups, before treatment and one month after the treatment: They were significantly lower in both group than those before the treatknent (24.42 +/- 4.36, 41.28 +/- 4.82; 30.66 +/- 4.53, 41.84 +/- 5.04 (t = 6.24, 4.18, p < 0.01)). CONCLUSION: Combination of physiotherapy and preventive education can significantly ameliorate the quality of life in patients with degenerative gonarthritis, which is more effective than only using physiotherapy.

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