Effect of Manual Therapy Techniques on Knee Proprioception in Patients with Osteo-arthritis of Knee

A prospective clinical trial of 90 patients with osteoarthritis knee was carried out. Outcome measures assessed were full weight bearing knee joint proprioception (mean proprioception error), pain on visual analogue scale and physical function on WOMAC scale. Subjects were divided into 3 groups; Group A received Maitland's mobilization technique and exercise program, Group B received Mulligan's mobilization technique and exercise program and Group C received only exercise program. The duration of treatment was 5 days which included 3 sessions on day1, day3 and day5. Outcome measures were assessed pre and post treatment at the end of day 1 and day 5. The data obtained was analyzed statistically and results were displayed graphically. The within group results showed statistically significant reduction in mean proprioception error, pain on VAS and WOMAC score post treatment of day 5. However, when between groups comparison was done no statistically significant difference was noted.

Thus it was concluded that exercises alone are effective in improving full weight bearing knee joint proprioception in patients with osteoarthritis knee. Manual therapy techniques did not have any added benefits to those of exercise alone.