Riassunto dello studio

63 patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) were randomized to receive either neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) alone (n=31) or in combination with peroneal nerve stimulation (NMES+PNS; n=32). The primary outcomes of interest included pain on a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), 100-meter walk test, proprioception, isokinetic quadriceps, and hamstring strength (QMS & HMS, respectively). Secondary outcomes of interest included the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). All outcomes were assessed at 2 and 6 weeks. Overall, the study found no differences in VAS pain, QMS, and WOMAC between the two groups at all time points. Proprioception (30° & 60°) & HMS (60° & 90°), and NHP emotional were all significantly better at 2 & 6 weeks in the PNS+NMES group, whereas the 100-meter walk test and HHS (120°) were significantly better at 6 weeks in the NMES and PNS+NMES groups, respectively. Both groups showed significant improvements from baseline to 2 and 6 weeks in VAS, 100m walk test, proprioception (30° & 60°), QMS (60°, 90°, 120°), HMS (90° & 120°), WOMAC pain, functional, and total scores, and NHP pain, physical, and total scores. These findings show that the addition of PNS to NMES can significantly improve emotional, proprioception, and HMS outcomes in patients with knee OA.