Quadriceps Exercises for Osteo-arthritis of the Knee — A Single Case Study Comparing Short-term versus Long-term Training Effects

Abstract

This single case study compared the strengthening effect of a short-term (six-week) versus a long-term (13-month) quadriceps strength training regimen for one 58-year-old woman diagnosed as having osteo-arthritis of the knee who was not receiving any other form of intervention. The strengthening regimen was initially carried out three times a week for six weeks under supervision using a standardised protocol of six bi-lateral maximal isometric quadriceps contractions at an angle of 60°. After a six-week detraining period, the same exercises were carried out in a similar manner at home for a further 13 months. The results indicated that the isometric exercises were associated with a 40% increase in maximal isometric quadriceps torque at six weeks, a 10% torque decline with detraining, with an additional torque increase of 30% after 13 months of further training. Based on these findings, it is suggested that isometric quadriceps exercises carried out over a protracted period for the treatment of mild knee joint disease could improve the efficacy of this treatment. This single case study compared the strengthening effect of a short-term (six-week) versus a long-term (13-month) quadriceps strength training regimen for one 58-year-old woman diagnosed as having osteo-arthritis of the knee who was not receiving any other form of intervention. The strengthening regimen was initially carried out three times a week for six weeks under supervision using a standardised protocol of six bi-lateral maximal isometric quadriceps contractions at an angle of 60°. After a six-week detraining period, the same exercises were carried out in a similar manner at home for a further 13 months. The results indicated that the isometric exercises were associated with a 40% increase in maximal isometric quadriceps torque at six weeks, a 10% torque decline with detraining, with an additional torque increase of 30% after 13 months of further training. Based on these findings, it is suggested that isometric quadriceps exercises carried out over a protracted period for the treatment of mild knee joint disease could improve the efficacy of this treatment.