Effect of intramuscular electrical stimulation of articularis genu muscle with mirror therapy on anterior knee pain in a patient with knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative condition that can develop in people who have quadriceps muscle weakness. Knee OA is more likely to develop in people who have weak quadriceps muscles, which extend the knee. Dysfunction of articularis genu muscle (AGM) is thought to be a cause of anterior knee pain in patients having OA of the knee joint. Herein, we report a case of anterior knee pain caused due to the dysfunction of AGM in a 41-year male who was initially treated with physical therapy, and it failed to ease the patient's problems completely. Intramuscular electrical stimulation (IMES) along with mirror therapy relieved his symptoms with no recurrence till 2 months of follow-up. IMES of the AGM combined with mirror therapy can be a viable therapeutic option for muscle reeducation and anterior knee pain.