Original Research Article
Year: 2019 | Month: May | Volume: 9 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 129-134
Comparison of Effectiveness of Ultrasound plus Strengthening Exercises and Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation in Managing Functional Activity and Pain in Patients with Acute Knee Osteoarthritis
Monica Preet Kour1, Shyamal Koley2
1Post-Graduate Student, 2Professor and Head,
Department of Physiotherapy, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar - 143005, Punjab, India
Corresponding Author: Shyamal Koley
ABSTRACT
Introduction: In elderly population, osteoarthritis is very common, affecting mostly knees, hands, hips, spine, and feet. Knee osteoarthritis can be commonly classified into acute or chronic stage. In the present study, four weeks interventions with ultrasound plus strengthening exercises and transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation were given to patients with acute knee osteoarthritis to observe the efficacy of these modalities.
Method: A total of purposively selected 50 confirmed cases of acute knee osteoarthritis aged 31-65 years were considered for the present study and were collected from the Government Medical College, Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir, India. The subjects were divided into two groups for intervention. Group A consisted of 25 subjects who were treated with ultrasound plus strengthening exercises for four weeks. Group B consisted of 25 subjects who were treated with transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) for 4 weeks.
Results: Statistically significant differences (p<0.022-0.002) were found in functional activity score (before and after treatment) and pain (after treatment) between the two sets of data. When male and female acute knee osteoarthritis patients treated with ultrasound plus strengthening exercises were compared, statistically no significant differences (p>0.05) were found in any case between them. Similarly, when male and female acute knee osteoarthritis patients treated with TENS were compared, statistically significant differences (p<0.035-0.017) were found in weight and BMI only between them.
Conclusion: It might be concluded that ultrasound plus strengthening exercises were more effective than transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation for increment of functional activity and reduction of pain in patients with acute knee osteoarthritis.
Key words: Acute knee osteoarthritis patient. Ultrasound plus strengthening exercises. Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation.