Patients with unilateral knee pain due to knee osteoarthritis presenting to our clinic will be included in a 20-session treatment program, either on an outpatient basis or as inpatients at our clinic. The patients will be divided into 2 groups, and conventional treatments including isometric exercises, TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) and hot pack therapy for the painful knee will be administered to both groups. In addition to these treatments, the intervention group will receive isokinetic exercise sessions using the Cybex 770 Norm isokinetic dynamometer system (Lumex Inc., Ronkonkoma, New York) at speeds of 60°/s and 180°/s according to the device's standard protocol, targeting the contralateral lower extremity. Subsequently, examinations and measurements will be conducted to evaluate patients for reduction in pain, increase in muscle strength, improvement in functionality, and increase in thigh muscle thickness.
Osteoartritis is the most common form of arthritis, originating from the failed repair of joint damage caused by stress initiated by any joint or periarticular tissue abnormality. Its most common symptom is pain. The long-term consequences of osteoarthritis include decreased physical activity, loss of conditioning, sleep disturbances, fatigue, depression, and disability. Factors associated with increased risk of knee osteoarthritis include advanced age, female gender, overweight or obesity, knee injury, occupational factors, and varus or valgus alignment of the knee. With the increasing aging population, degenerative joint problems have become relevant to a large portion of society. Exercise is a fundamental component in the treatment of this chronic disease, which limits functionality and reduces quality of life. A systematic review including 32 randomized controlled trials evaluating 5362 participants showed that various types of exercise provide improvement in pain, functionality, and quality of life in knee osteoarthritis. Musculoskeletal pains can lead to cortical reorganization in both somatosensory and motor areas, which can reduce motor activity in both the affected and unaffected contralateral extremities. For example, a decrease in motor activity in both painful and pain-free contralateral extremities has been identified during acute pain and/or in the presence of chronic pain. If exercise is performed to increase muscle strength on one side of the body, strength may also increase on the opposite side. This effect, called the contralateral exercise phenomenon, is typically measured in homologous muscles. Although known for over a century, most studies have not been well-designed to demonstrate the exact magnitude of the strength increase effect. However, an updated meta-analysis of 16 studies indicates that the size of the contralateral exercise effect is approximately 8% of baseline strength or about half of the increase in strength on the exercised side. However, there are few studies examining the combined effects of contralateral lower extremity isokinetic exercises on pain, muscle thickness, and functionality. Therefore, the aim of this study is to demonstrate the effect of isokinetic exercises applied to the contralateral lower extremity added to routine treatment on muscle strength, muscle thickness, and functionality in the painful knee, and to show its potential relationship. We aim to provide clinicians with a new perspective on the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
32
An isokinetic exercise program consisting of 20 sessions conducted five days a week. The program begins with five repetitions at a speed of 60°/s, followed by sets of 5-15 repetitions with incremental increases of 30°/s. Rest periods of 30 seconds were included between sets.
10 repetitions of quadriceps isometric exercises in 3 sets, along with hot pack and TENS treatments for painful knee
Gazi University Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye)
The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) score
WOMAC score evaluation following the last treatment session. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) is a widely used, validated questionnaire designed to assess pain, stiffness, and physical function in patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis. It consists of 24 items divided into three subscales: pain (5 items), stiffness (2 items), and physical function (17 items). Patients rate their symptoms on a Likert scale, with higher scores indicating worse pain, stiffness, or functional limitations. The WOMAC is commonly used in clinical research to evaluate the efficacy of various treatments for osteoarthritis.
Time frame: From enrollment day to the end of the rehabilitation program at 4 weeks.
Pain level; VAS score
The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) is a tool used to measure a patient's level of pain. It consists of a straight line with endpoints defining extreme limits such as 'no pain' and 'worst pain imaginable.' The patient marks on the line the point that they feel represents their perception of their current state. This method is simple, reliable, and widely used in both clinical and research settings to quantify pain intensity.
Time frame: From enrollment day to the end of the rehabilitation program at 4 weeks
Muscle strength
To evaluate isokinetic muscle strength, the Cybex 770 Norm isokinetic dynamometer system (Lumex Inc., Ronkonkoma, New York) will be used to measure peak torque values for flexion and extension at a speed of 60°/s, peak torque values for flexion and extension at a speed of 180°/s, and total work production (endurance) at 180 degrees.
Time frame: From enrollment day to the end of the rehabilitation program at 4 weeks
Physical function
To evaluate physical function, SF-36 (Short Form-36) will be used. SF-36: The SF-36 is a scale consisting of 36 items divided into 8 subscales: physical functioning, physical role, emotional role, pain, general health, energy, social functioning, and mental health. Lower scores indicate higher levels of restriction. The Turkish version has been validated for reliability and validity.
Time frame: From enrollment day to the end of the rehabilitation program at 4 weeks
Lower extremity function
To evaluate physical function, TUG test will be used. Timed Up and Go Test (TUG): To assess lower extremity function, participants will be timed as they rise from a chair, walk to a marked point 3 meters away, turn around, and return to sit in the chair. The elapsed time will be recorded.
Time frame: From enrollment day to the end of the rehabilitation program at 4 weeks
Ultrasonographic Measurement of Thigh muscle thickness
Participants will be evaluated in a supine position. Measurements will be taken for the Rectus Femoris (RF), Vastus Intermedius (VI), Vastus Lateralis (VL), Vastus Medialis (VM), and Vastus Medialis Obliquus (VMO) muscles. A line will be drawn from the upper pole of the patella to the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) along the length of the thigh. RF and VI will be measured at 50% of this line. For VL, the circumference of the thigh at 50% of the line will be measured, and then VL will be measured at 10% of the circumference. VM will be measured at 20% of the line, and then at 12.5% of the circumference at the same point. VMO will be measured 4 cm above and 3 cm medial to the upper pole of the patella. MyLab 70 XV ultrasound device (Esaote Biomedica, Genoa, Italy) with a multifrequency linear probe will be used at the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit of Gazi University Faculty of Medicine.
Time frame: From enrollment day to the end of the rehabilitation program at 4 weeks
Range of motion
Range of motion will be measured with a goniometer according to the neutral zero method. The principle of joint measurement by the neutral zero method is to measure the movement of a joint from a defined neutral O-position. The measured angle gives the magnitude of movement.
Time frame: From enrollment day to the end of the rehabilitation program at 4 weeks
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