Effects of Motivational Interviewing on Pain Self-Efficacy and Exercise Behavior in Individuals With Knee Osteoarthritis

Motivational interviewing will be delivered individually in face-to-face sessions by a researcher trained and certified in motivational interviewing. Sessions will focus on identifying individual barriers and goals, strengthening motivation and commitment to exercise, supporting self-efficacy, and preventing relapse. The intervention will incorporate three stages: increasing exercise motivation, strengthening commitment to exercise, and relapse prevention.

Participants will perform neuromuscular exercise sessions five times per week for four weeks. Each 60-minute session will consist of approximately 10 minutes of warm-up, 40 minutes of exercise, and 10 minutes of cool-down. Exercises will include core stabilization and postural control, postural orientation, lower-extremity strengthening, functional exercises, and balance and proprioception exercises. Exercises will be progressed according to participant tolerance and functional performance.

The home exercise program will include isometric strengthening exercises for the quadriceps and hip adductor muscles, straight leg raising, assisted hip and knee flexion, and active knee flexion exercises. Participants will perform the program five days per week, twice daily, for three weeks, with 10 repetitions of each exercise. The program will be explained and demonstrated by a physiotherapist during the first session, and adherence will be followed by telephone contact.