A140: Effects of Hot-Compress and Low-Medium-Frequency Electrotherapy on Pain, Proprioception and Functional Performance with Knee Osteoarthritis

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PURPOSE: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is one of the most chronic progressive diseases among older adults, leading to pain, impaired proprioception, and decreased functional performance. This study aimed to investigate the effects of an 8-week hot compress (TC) combined with low-medium frequency electrotherapy (LMFE) on pain, proprioception, and functional performance among older adults with KOA. METHODS: Twenty-nine older adults with KOA were recruited and randomly assigned to TC+LMFE (n=15, 69.4±2.8 years, 159.9±6.0 cm, and 68.9±8.7 kg) or TC (n=14, 69.1±2.0 years, 161.0±6.9 cm, and 68.2±9.7 kg) groups. The TC+LMFE group received TC+LMFE treatment, and the TC group received TC treatment for eight weeks with three 40-minute sessions per week. At pre- (week0) and post-intervention (week9), their pain, knee proprioception, and functional performance were assessed. The pain score was recorded using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), the joint proprioception was assessed with the position perception error values at 15°, 45° and 75° extension of the affected knee joint, and functional performance was measured by the 20-m walk test. Two-way ANOVA tests with repeated measures was adopted to analyze the data. RESULTS: Significant group-by-intervention interactions were detected in the pain score (p=0.041, η2 p=0.146), 45° (p=0.047, η2 p=0.138), and 75° (p=0.012, η2 p=0.213) position perception error of knee joint, and the 20-m walk test (p=0.028, η2 p=0.167). Post hoc comparisons showed that compared with week0, the pain score (TC+ LMFE group: week0=22.27±7.19, week9= 9.13±2.78, p < 0.001, d=2.410; TC group: week0=21.86±4.85, week9=14.07±2.40, p < 0.001, d=2.033) was decreased in both groups at week9, while the 45° (week0=5.46 ± 2.89, week9=3.12 ± 2.65, p=0.007, d=0.844) and 75° (week0=7.79 ± 5.85, week9=4.25 ± 3.28, p=0.004, d=0.746) position perception error of knee joint were decreased only in the TC+ LMFE group at week9. In addition, compared with week0, the speed of the 20-m walk test (week0=1.23 ± 0.21, week9=1.35 ± 0.21, p=0.009, d=0.604) was also increased in the TC+ LMFE group at week9. The pain score of the TC+ LMFE group was lower than that of the TC group at week9 (TC+ LMFE group: week9=9.13±2.78, TC group: week9=14.07±2.40, p<0.001, d=1.901). CONCLUSION: Compared with the TC, the TC+ LMFE for eight weeks was more effective in relieving knee pain, improving proprioception, and enhancing functional performance among older adults with KOA.