Effectiveness of muscle strengthening exercises on the clinical outcomes of patients with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized four-arm controlled trial.

研究概要

96 patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomized to receive either quadriceps strengthening exercises (n=24), hamstring strengthening exercises (n=24), quadriceps and hamstrings strengthening exercises (n=24), or control (n=24). Outcomes of interest included pain on a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) pain, stiffness, function, and total score. There were significant between-group differences via ANOVA/ANCOVA analysis and Dunnett post-hoc tests in VAS pain scores, WOMAC pain, stiffness, and total scores. WOMAC physical function scores were similar between the groups. The combined group showed significantly better improvements from baseline to final follow-up.