Ab. No. 133 Effect of 12-Week Neuromuscular Exercise Program on Hip, Knee, Ankle Joint Proprioception and Risk of Falls in Patients With Total Knee Replacement With and Without Type II Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose is to study the effect of 12-week neuromuscular exercise program (NEP) on hip, knee and ankle joint proprioception (JP) and risk of falls in patients with total knee replacement (TKR) with and without type II diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods: Forty patients with TKR with DM (n=20) and without DM (n=20) between 45-80 years of age at moderate protection phase were included using convenient sampling. The study commenced after ethical approval from Institutional Ethics Committee. Outcome measures assessed at baseline and post 4-weeks of intervention were JP, muscle strength, range of motion and risk of falls. After the baseline assessment patients were taught the NEP. SPSS (version 24) Shapiro–Wilk test was used to analyse normality. Paired t-test was used for data which was normally distributed and Mann Whitney-U test was used for data which did not follow normal distribution. Effect size was used to compare the effect of NEP in both the groups. Results: Significant improvement was observed in JP angles of hip flexion, hip abduction and knee flexion after 4-weeks of NEP in patients with TKR without DM(p=0.00) and with DM (p< 0.05). Significant difference was found in risk of falls in patients with TKR with DM(p=0.00) and without DM(p=0.00). Conclusions: Significant improvement was reported in JP angles of hip flexion, hip abduction and knee flexion in both the groups, post intervention. Risk of falls reduced in both the groups, post intervention. There was no significant change in JP of hip, knee and ankle joint of the operated side when compared to non-operated side in patients with TKR with and without DM. Implications: NEP can be used in TKR patients with and without DM, and it can be used as a part of post-operative rehabilitation after TKR.