Stepping Forward: A Scoping Review of Physical Activity in Osteoarthritis.

Physical Activity (PA) is recommended to mitigate the symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA), however this modality remains an unfamiliar construct for many patients and clinicians. Moreover, there can be confusion over the nuanced differences in terminology, such as such as exercise, sedentary behavior, and moderate intensity. The purpose of this scoping review is to provide a basic overview of PA including terminology, summarize the importance of PA for adults with OA, and discuss current gaps in the literature. Broadly, PA is defined as "any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that results in energy expenditure", and exercise is considered a type of PA that is planned, structured, and repetitive. Robust literature shows that PA has a modest protective effect on pain, functional limitation, and disability for OA, which is in addition to positive effects on a broad range of outcomes from mood and affect to mortality and morbidity in the general population. Recommendations are provided for which measurement instruments can be used clinically and from a research perspective to record PA, as well as metrics to employ to summarize daily activity.