Effectiveness of Manual Therapy and Neuromuscular Training in the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis

Effectiveness of Manual Therapy VS Conventional Physical Therapy With Neuromuscular Training in the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis

The purpose of the study is to compare the short-term effectiveness of manual therapy with neuromuscular training and conventional physical therapy with neuromuscular training in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a major public health problem, characterized by progressive degeneration and loss of articular cartilage, resulting in pain, limitation of movement, imbalance, functional disability, and diminished patient quality of life. Regular participation in physical activity has been recognized for several years as being beneficial in the management of knee OA. The role and effectiveness of manual therapy techniques and conventional physical therapy are evident from the existing literature, but no comparison was found for the combination of neuromuscular training (NMT) in patients with knee OA. Thus, the aim of this study is to compare the short-term effectiveness of manual therapy (MT) versus conventional physical therapy (CPT) with NMT in the management of knee OA after six weeks of treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Complaining of knee pain that has lasted longer than 3 months.
• Pain level that is medium (pain score greater than or equal to 4).
• No knee injuries.
• Treatment not received in another physical therapy clinic in the past three months.
• Painful range of motion in the knee.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of knee surgery
• A systemic arthritic condition
• Any other muscular, joint, or neurological condition affecting lower limb function.
• Received physical therapy or an intra-articular injection in the knee within the past 3 months.