The effect of two exercise programs on various functional outcome
measures in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: A randomized controlled
clinical trial
Affiliations: [a] Selcuk University, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Physical
Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Meram, Konya, Turkey | [b] Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine,
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Capa, Istanbul,
Turkey
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Nilay Sahin, Selcuk University,
Meram Faculty of Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department,
Meram, Konya 42001, Turkey. Tel.: +90 5552332535; Fax: +90 2126766200; E-mail:
[email protected]
Abstract: We aimed to investigate the effects of isometric and combined
concentric-eccentric (C-E) isokinetic types of exercise applied to the knee
muscles in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) in an attempt to identify
which type of exercise would be most effective in terms of pain relief,
functional status, quality of life, and muscular strength. This was a
controlled trial in which 71 patients were randomized into three groups. The
first group was assigned to C-E, the second group to isometric isokinetic
exercises, while the third, control group, was only given paracetamol. A visual
analog scale for pain, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis
Index (WOMAC) and Short From-36 (SF-36) for functional status and quality of
life, and the isokinetic test for muscular strength were evaluated. Significant
improvements were recorded in all groups for pre and post-treatment pain, the
WOMAC and the SF-36 (P< 0.001). Among the exercise groups,
improvement was significantly better in the C-E, isokinetic exercise group as
compared with the isometric exercise group (P < 0.001).
Isokinetic exercises are recommended as a treatment modality. However, the
long-term effects of these exercises on pain and osteoarthritis progression
need to be investigated.
Keywords: Osteoarthritis, knee, quality of life, exercise, functional status, analgesic
