Home Based Hip Strengthening for Knee OA Patients

Effects of Home-based Hip Strengthening Exercises on Pain, Range of Motion and Functional Disability in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients: a Randomized Controlled Trial

In knee osteoarthritis patients, weakness of hip abductor muscles is considered an important contributing factor leading to the progression of the disease.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of disease that results from an abnormality in joint function. Osteoarthritis(OA) is a condition that is characterized by progressive loss of articular cartilage of a joint and causes pain. Yamda et al. found that the strength of hip adductors increases with the severity of the disease. This reflects that more use of these muscles lower knee adductor moment 54. Considering this research, knee loads can be altered by strengthening hip muscles. Pakistan is listed in 3rd world countries and the poverty index is high. Many patients show reluctance in going to clinics for the physiotherapeutic management of knee OA. So, the present research intends to investigate the effects of home-based hip strengthening exercise on pain, functions, and range of motion in elderly knee osteoarthritis patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• The age group was from 40 to 60 years.
• Both males and females were included.
• Average knee pain on walking >3 on an 11-point scale (NPRS) (0 no pain; 10 maximal pain).
• participants can walk independently without any assistive devices
• Diagnosed patients of grade II & III of Kallgren and Lawrence scale for knee osteoarthritis referred by an orthopaedic surgeon

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of osteoporosis.
• Leg length discrepancy or structural deformity
• Knee surgery or TKR.
• Corticosteroid injection in knee joint
• Systemic arthritic condition
• History of tibiofemoral and patellofemoral replacement
• Any other neurological and muscular condition affecting the lower limb
• Any history of radiculopathy.