Comparison of efficacy of biofeedback, electrical stimulation and therapeutic exercise in patients with knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je usporediti učinkovitost pojedinih fizikalnih postupaka u liječenju početnog OA koljena. Uspoređivali smo EMG BFB terapiju, ES terapiju i terapijsko vježbanje s pretpostavkom da će najbolji učinak imati EMG BFB terapija. Ispitivali smo bol, funkciju koljena, snagu mišića, m. vastus medialis obliquus. Pomoću upitnika SF 36 i kratkog sržnog seta MKF klasifikacije, ispitivali smo utjecaj liječenja na kvalitetu života i na biopsihosocijalno funkcioniranje ispitanika. U istraživanje smo uključili 94 ispitanika koji su proveli tri tjedna na fizikalnoj terapiji te smo ih pratili tijekom 6 mjeseci. Rezultati su pokazali dobar učinak fizikalne terapije na ispitivane parametre bez statistički značajne razlike između skupina. Ovo istraživanje pokazalo je da 6 mjeseci nakon fizikalne terapije dolazi do blagog pada snage mišića, ali bez pogoršanja u osjećaju boli i funkciji koljena. S obzirom na to da nije pronađena razlika između navedenih fizikalnih procedura, zaključili smo da je terapijsko vježbanje učinkovito u liječenju OA koljena i da nije potrebno uključivati EMG BFB terapiju, ni ES terapiju u rehabilitacijske protokole.The aim of this research was to compare the effectiveness of specific physical procedures in treating initial knee osteoarthritis (OA). We compared EMG BFB therapy, ES therapy and therapeutic exercise with the assumption that EMG BFB therapy would have the best effect. We examined pain, knee function, and the strength of the vastus medialis obliquus muscle. The SF 36 questionnaire and the brief ICF core set for osteoarthritis were used to assess the impact of treatment on the subjects' quality of life and biopsychosocial functioning. This research included 94 subjects who underwent three weeks of physical therapy and they were followed up for 6 months. The results showed a positive effect of physical therapy on the examined parameters with no statistically significant difference between the groups. The study revealed that 6 months after physical therapy there was a slight decrease in muscle strength, but no deterioration in pain sensation and knee function. Given these findings, no significant differences were observed between the mentioned physical procedures. In conclusion, we found that therapeutic exercise is effective in treating knee OA and there is no necessity to include EMG BFB therapy or ES therapy in rehabilitation protocols