Riassunto dello studio

54 elderly patients with unilateral knee osteoarthritis (KOA) were randomized to receive muscle energy technique (MET) or manipulation with movement (MWM). One participant in the MET group dropped out, resulting in 26 analyzed in the MET group and 27 analyzed in the MWM group. All patients received standard Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and ultrasound prior to manual therapy, delivered 3 times per week for 4 weeks, followed by 2 weeks without treatment. The outcomes of interest were pain intensity (Numeric Rating Scale), knee flexion and extension range of motion (ROM), One Leg Stance (OLS), Functional Reach Test (FRT), Timed Up and Go (TUG), lower limb muscle strength (5XSTS), and fear of falling (FES-I). Outcomes were assessed at baseline, after 4 weeks of intervention, and after 2 weeks of follow-up. Overall, both MET and MWM significantly improved pain, knee ROM, balance, muscle strength, and fear of falling over time. However, MWM demonstrated greater improvements in knee flexion, dynamic balance, and fear of falling at 4 weeks, with some sustained advantages at follow-up. These findings suggest that although both techniques are effective, MWM may offer superior functional gains in elderly individuals with knee osteoarthritis.