Abstract
Osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK) is characterized by pain, limitation of joint mobility, and significant deterioration of proprioception resulting in functional decline. This study assessed proprioception in OAK patients following two ten-day rehabilitation programs using the Orthyo® system. Fifty-four study participants with clinical symptoms and radiological signs of OAK were randomly divided into an exercise group (n = 27) or a manual therapy group (n = 27). The control group consisted of 27 volunteers with radiological signs of OAK, but with no clinical symptoms or prior history of rehabilitation. The following parameters were assessed: knee proprioception using inertial sensors and a mobile application, patients’ function using Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC), and pain intensity using the visual analog scale (VAS). Following rehabilitation, knee proprioception tests did not improve in either study group. Both study groups showed significant improvement of the WOMAC-assessed function (exercise group: p < 0.01, manual therapy group: p = 0.01) and a significant decrease (p < 0.01) of VAS-assessed pain following rehabilitation, but the post-therapy results did not differ significantly between the aforementioned groups. The Orthyo® system provided a quick and accurate assessment of the knee joint position sense. There was no direct relationship between functionality, pain, and proprioception threshold in the knee joint.
Highlights
Osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK), even with unilateral presentation of symptoms, causes a significant deterioration of function, which, in turn, lowers patients’ quality of life
Findings by Baert et al are supported by van der Esch et al [10], who report that OAK causes proprioceptive deterioration, which increases pain and reduces patient activity level
We evaluated the degree of knee joint deviation from its correct trajectory during flexion, which we did not find to have been analyzed in the literature so far
Summary
Osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK), even with unilateral presentation of symptoms, causes a significant deterioration of function, which, in turn, lowers patients’ quality of life. In broader terms, it poses a significant public health problem [1,2,3]. As reported by Mahmoudian et al [4], OAK is highly prevalent in people above the age of 60, and it is typically associated with pain, stiffness, muscle weakness, and proprioceptive deficits. These proprioceptive deficits increase the risk of falls and other injuries in OAK patients, leading to disability. Findings by Baert et al are supported by van der Esch et al [10], who report that OAK causes proprioceptive deterioration, which increases pain and reduces patient activity level
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