Linking Physical Activity to Personal Values: Feasibility and Acceptability Randomized Pilot of a Behavioral Intervention for Older Adults with Osteoarthritis Pain.

Background Osteoarthritis (OA) pain is common and leads to functional impairment for many older adults. Physical activity can improve OA outcomes for older adults, but few are appropriately active. Behavioral interventions can reduce barriers to physical activity. We developed and tested a brief, novel behavioral intervention for older adults combining values to enhance motivation and strategic activity pacing to improve arthritis-related pain and functioning and increase physical activity. Methods A randomized feasibility and acceptability pilot trial compared Engage-PA to treatment as usual plus fitness tracker (TAU+) in N=40 adults age 65+ with OA pain in the knee or hip. Engage-PA involved two 60-minute telephone sessions. All participants wore a fitness tracker to collect daily steps throughout the study and completed baseline and post-treatment assessments of secondary outcomes (arthritis-related pain and physical functioning, physical activity, psychological distress, psychological flexibility, and value-guided action). The impact of COVID-19 on general wellbeing and physical activity was also assessed. Descriptive statistics were conducted for feasibility and acceptability outcomes. Indicators of improvement in secondary outcomes were examined via change scores from baseline to post-treatment and performing independent samples