Efficacy of combined proprioceptive exercises and conventional physiotherapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A double-blinded two-group pretest–posttest design

• Main Authors: Veena Kirthika, S Sudhakar, K Padmanabhan, S Ramachandran, Mohan Kumar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2018-01-01
• Series: Journal of Orthopedics, Traumatology and Rehabilitation
• Subjects: conventional physiotherapy; osteoarthritis; proprioceptive exercise; visual analog scale; western ontario and mcmaster universities osteoarthritis index
• Online Access: http://www.jotr.in/article.asp?issn=0975-7341;year=2018;volume=10;issue=2;spage=94;epage=97;aulast=Kirthika

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative condition of the joint. Current physiotherapy interventions for OA focus on pain reduction, improve knee range of motion, and muscle strength. OA of knee impairs quadriceps function which affects balance and gait reducing patient's mobility and function. Therefore, there is a need to find out the effect of combined proprioceptive exercises with conventional physiotherapy in Patient with knee osteoarthritis (PKOA). Aim: The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of combined proprioceptive exercises and conventional physiotherapy in PKOA. Methods: A total of 40 female POAK were recruited for the study and were divided into two groups as follows: Group A (conventional group) and Group B (experimental group). Group B in addition to the conventional treatment received proprioceptive exercises. Both the groups were instructed to perform exercises for 5 days in a week for 3 months. Visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score were noted pre- and post-intervention. Results: On comparing the mean values of Group A and Group B on VAS and WOMAC scores, both the groups showed a significant decrease (P < 0.001) in the posttest mean, but Group B (experimental group) was more effective than Group A (conventional group). Conclusion: The present study concluded that 3 months duration of combining proprioceptive exercises with conventional physiotherapy is more effective than conventional physiotherapy alone in PKOA.