COMPARISON BETWEEN WEIGHT BEARING STRENGTHENING TRAINING AND NON-WEIGHT BEARING STRENGTHENING TRAINING ON PATIENTS WITH KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS

Abstract

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of weight bearing strengthening training and non weight bearing strengthening on walking speed and strength of patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic localized joint disease that causes degeneration of articular cartilage and bony changes at the joints and is the most common cause of the disability affecting approximately one third of the adults with the disease prevalence increasing with advancing age. It is the most common specific condition, affecting 27 million people in the US in 2005. Symptoms and signs patients may present with include joint pain, stiffness, crepitus, restricted range of motion, effusions, bony hypertrophy, joint malalignment (such as a change in varus/valgus knee contour), surrounding muscle weakness, disordered gait, and, eventually, functional limitations and disability. The benefits of weight bearing (WB) exercises are becoming increasingly accepted and employed in the clinical setting. The effects of NWB exercises in elderly participants with knee OA have not been well characterized.

Study design: Randomized Control Trial

Methods: 30 subjects only male in age group of 45-60 years with osteoarthritis were recruited for study. Walking speed and strength were analyzed in weight bearing strengthening training and non-weight bearing strengthening traininggroups. Outcome measures were 1 RM and 6 meter distance measured by stopwatch

Results: Results showed that there is significant improvement Post weight bearing strengthening training and non-weight bearing strengthening training in both groups.         

Conclusion: Weight bearing and non-weight bearing strengthening training were proved to be both effective tool in improving walking speed and strength in individuals with knee OA. But weight bearing strengthening training is more effective than non-weight bearing strengthening training.

Key words: Osteoarthritis, RM - Repetition Maximum, WBST–Weight bearing strengthening training, NWBST- Non weight bearing strengthening training, RCT– Randomized control trial.