Effectiveness of Mulligan’s Mobilization with Movement On Pain Pressure Threshold and Functional Ability in Subjects with Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative condition mainly due to wear and tear occurring during ageing. Knee osteoarthritis shall be classified as primary or secondary osteoarthritis depending upon its aetiology. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of Mulligan's Mobilization with Movement (MWM) on pain pressure threshold and functional ability in subjects with knee osteoarthritis. 40 patients with knee osteoarthritis were allotted into two groups, i.e., Group A (experimental) and Group B (control). Group A subjects were subjected to Mulligan’s MWM along with conventional physiotherapy, and Group B subjects were subjected to conventional physiotherapy alone for 3 sessions per week for a period of 4 weeks. The outcome measures were the PPT (pain pressure threshold) and WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis) scale. For PPT, the post-test values of the experimental group were the median (interquartile range) 10(10-10), mean rank of 30.50, and the sum of ranks of 610.00. The post-test values of the control group were median (interquartile range) 5 (4-5.75), mean rank 10.50, and the sum of ranks 210. 00. For WOMAC, the post-test values of the experimental group were median (interquartile range) 30 (29–30.7), mean rank 10.50, and the sum of ranks 210.00. The post-test values of the control group were median (interquartile range) 44 (42-45), mean rank 30.50, and the sum of ranks 610.00. The post-test Mann-Whitney U value was < .001; the P value was < .001, which shows that there is a statistically significant difference in post-test values of PPT and WOMAC between experimental and control groups. The study concluded that applying MWM significantly improves the pain pressure threshold and functional ability in subjects with knee osteoarthritis.