A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN THE EFFICACY OF NMES AND QUADRICEPS ISOMETRIC EXERCISES VERSUS TENS AND QUADRICEPS ISOMETRIC EXERCISES IN PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM ACUTE KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a painful and degenerative joint disease, the pain, joint stiffness associated with this condition have a dramatic impact on physical mobility and function.This study was done to assess the effectiveness of NMES and Quadriceps isometric exercises versus TENS and Quadriceps isometric exercises in patients suffering from acute Knee Osteoarthritis.METHODS: All the subjects were clinically diagnosed by orthopaedician with acute knee osteoarthritis were screened after finding their suitability as per the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were requested to participate in the study.Participants in the study were briefed about the nature of the study and their intervention.After briefing them about the study, their informed written consent was taken.60 Acute knee osteoarthritis patients were randomly divided into two groups with n= 30 each group, Group A-received Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and Quadriceps isometric exercises, where Group B-received Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and Quadriceps isometric exercises.The treatment was given 5 days a week.The total treatment duration was for 4 weeks.OUTCOME MEASURES: The patients were evaluated at the beginning of the intervention program, and again at the beginning of treatment of day1, day 15 and 4 th week.All the patients were requested to come for a follow up measurement after 4 week of treatment program.All the patients were assessed for pain and functional outcome by taking their VAS and WOMAC score.RESULTS: Group A which received Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and Quadriceps isometric exercises showed great improvements from baseline to 4 th week on pain intensity and functional outcome assessed using VAS and WOMAC respectively.Group B showed slight improvements from baseline to 4 th week till the treatment was given to them but showed mild reduction of pain and improve functional outcome after the treatment was stopped.After analysis group A showed significance with P = 0.001.CONCLUSION: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) with Quadriceps isometric exercises and Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) with Quadriceps isometric exercises showed effectiveness in reducing the pain intensity and improving the functional outcome but Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) with Quadriceps isometric exercises showed superior hand over Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) with Quadriceps isometric exercises.