Physical Therapy Management of Knee Osteoarthritis
in the Middle-aged Athlete
Thomas Adams, PT, DPT, CSCS,* Debra Band-Entrup, PT, BS,*w Scott Kuhn, PT, MS, ATC,* Lucas Legere, PT, MS,w Kimberly Mace, PT, MS, CSCS,w Adam Paggi, PT, DPT,w and Matthew Penney, PT, DPT, SCS, ATC* Abstract: Osteoarthritis (OA) is prevalent in todays population, including the athletic and recreationally active middle-aged population. OA is a degenerative condition of the articular/hyaline cartilage of synovial joints and commonly aects the knee joint. In general, athletic participation does not specically inuence a higher incidence of knee OA in this population; however, traumatic injury to the knee joint poses a denitive risk in developing early- onset OA. The purpose of this article is to review evidence-based nonpharmacological interventions for the conservative manage- ment of knee OA. Manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, patient education, and weight management are strongly supported in the literature for conservative treatment of knee OA. Modalities [thermal, electrical stimulation (ES), and low-level laser therapy (LLLT)] and orthotic intervention are moderately supported in the literature as indicated management strategies for knee OA. While many strongly supported conservative interventions have been published, additional research is needed to determine the most eective approach in treating knee OA. Key Words: osteoarthritis, knee, athlete, physical therapy, reha- bilitation, intervention, manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, modalities (Sports Med Arthrosc Rev 2013;21:210) A rthritis is the most common cause of disability among US adults 1 with costs attributable to arthritis and other rheumatic conditions estimated at $128 billion in 2003. 2 In 2005, approximately 27 million US adults were diagnosed with clinical osteoarthritis (OA) aecting quality of life through pain and functional limitations. 3 The number of US adults with arthritis is projected to rise to 67 million by 2030. 4 Recent research reports increased prevalence of knee OA among middle-aged athletes and former professional athletes. In a New Zealand study of 22 male ex-table tennis players, 78% of the players displayed radiologic evidence of knee OA as compared with 36% in age-matched and sex- matched controls. 5 In a 2012 systematic review out of the Netherlands, between 60% and 80% of former elite soccer players developed radiologic evidence of knee OA. 6 In addition, a study in the United Kingdom in 1996 suggested higher incidence of OA in female, ex-athletes (tennis players and middle- distance, long-distance runners) aged 40 to 65 compared with age-matched controls. 7 The Osteoarthritis Systematic International Review and Synthesis Organization (OASIS) in 2006 presented recommendations for patients with knee OA regarding appropriate physical activity participation. They concluded the 3 highly modiable risk factors for symptomatic knee OA are obesity, injury, and occupations involving excessive mechanical stress. 8 For sports and recreational activity, OASIS suggests a correlation between activities representing risk factors for knee OA and intensity and duration of exposure. The group also states that risk of OA is associated more with history of trauma and obesity than with sport participation in general. The group recommends athletes to be informed that joint trauma is a greater risk factor than mere activity or sport participation. Additional evidence concludes that OA risk is associated with duration and intensity of exposure in higher level activities. The clinical consensus of OASIS stated patients with OA participate regularly in recreational sports as long as the activity does not cause pain, but should be encouraged to change sports that involve activ- ities at risk for joint trauma. 8 Other research groups have studied OA to compile treatment protocols and interventions for conservative management of the disease. For example, the American College of Rheumatology in 2010 to 2011, convened a Technical Expert Panel to update recommended guidelines for nonpharmacological and pharmacological management of OA of the hand, hip, and knee. The Technical Expert Panel performed extensive literature reviews and evaluated the best available evidence for specic interventions for the conservative management of hand, hip, and knee OA 9 (Table 1). Another scientic study group, the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI), developed guidelines for conservative management of hip and knee OA. The OARSI group rst released their guidelines in 2007 with updated recommendations in 2008. Overall, they presented 23 recommended interventions for the treatment of hip and/or knee OA, based on opinion alone, research evidence or both. However, despite the groups high ratings for a core set of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic recommendations, OARSI admits that the consensus rec- ommendations are not always supported by the best available evidence. 10 Other recommended interventions include patient education regarding lifestyle modication, activity pacing, exercise, weight reduction, knee bracing, and appropriate footwear/orthoses/wedging devices. 11 MANUAL THERAPY Symptoms associated with knee OA may result from restricted soft-tissue mobility and adhesions as a result of From the *Advanced Sports Therapy, Wellesley; and wOrthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy, Boston, MA. Disclosure: The authors declare no conict of interest. Reprints: Matthew Penney, PT, DPT, SCS, ATC, Advanced Sports Therapy, 62 Walnut Street, Wellesley, MA 02481. Copyright r 2013 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins REVIEW ARTICLE 2 | www.sportsmedarthro.com Sports Med Arthrosc Rev
Volume 21, Number 1, March 2013 recurrent inammation of both intra-articular and peri- articular tissue. Resultant adhesions may alter bio- mechanical forces on articular surfaces by restricting joint movement therefore creating additional symptoms. Manual therapy has been hypothesized to counteract some of these physiological changes through reduction of adhesions and improved range of motion (ROM), therefore breaking the inammatory cycle associated with progressive OA. 12 Benets of manual therapy include improved joint mobility and ROM, reduced soft-tissue contracture and brosis, decreased pain, and improved function. Although some might propose that knee OA symptom relief may occur with rest or knee joint unloading, research by Mangione and Axen 13 has shown that unweighting of the knee through deweighted treadmill training has not relieved pain in patients with knee OA. Deyle and colleagues have reported 20% to 40% pain relief from patients in 2 to 3 clinical treatments of manual therapy and exercise. This rapid reduction in symptoms implies the structures responsible for at least a portion of patients pain are not uncontrollable aspects of OA pathology; therefore peri- articular connective or muscular tissue could potentially generate symptoms. 14 Repeated tension challenges to these tissues with manual therapy techniques such as end-range passive stretching and active ROM provide a strong stim- ulus for pain relief. Other proposed benets of manual therapy include mechanical alteration of tissue, neurophysiological eects, and psychological inuence. Joint mobilization has been shown to induce immediate hypoalgesia in individuals with knee OA with a concurrent improvement in function. 15 Moss and colleagues demonstrated immediate reduction in pain pressure threshold after joint mobilization in patients with knee OA, further supporting hypoalgesic eects found in other studies. The positive hypoalgesic aects are believed to occur through stimulation of mechanorecep- tors and activation of pain inhibitory cortical systems. 16 Sambajon and colleagues has demonstrated nearly 70% decreased concentration of prostaglandin PGE2 24 hours after repetitive mobilization in a healthy in vitro animal study. As an inammatory mediator, prostaglandin PGE2 is implicated in arthritic hyperalgesia, which may sensitize peripheral nociceptors. 17 The authors of this study have found that the hypoalgesic eects of manual therapy often improve patients participation in therapeutic exercise in those who are limited by pain. Knee joint mobilization techniques focus on accessory movement of both the tibiofemoral joint and the patello- femoral joint as both articulations have been shown to be aected by soft-tissue restrictions associated with knee OA. 18 Benets have been reported for various amplitudes of joint mobilization. Moss and colleagues concluded that large amplitude (Maitland Grade III 19 ) anterior-posterior glide of the tibia on femur (supine, slight knee exion) combined with pain-free oscillatory glides (Maitland Grade I, II 19 ) of the tibia improved pain levels 3 to 4 times greater than a control group not receiving joint mobilization. Performance during Sit-To-Stand and Timed Up and Go testing also showed signicant improvement in the joint mobilization group. 15 Pollard and colleagues demonstrated that a combina- tion of knee joint mobilization techniques decreased patients pain and crepitus, while also improving patients satisfaction, general function, and joint mobility. The rst technique in the study was active knee ROM from 90 degrees of exion (Fig. 1) through as much pain-free extension possible while a sustained inferior patella glide was applied to the superior pole of the patella (Fig. 2). The technique was performed to minimize the natural superior glide of the patella and to decrease compressive forces of the patella into the femoral trochlea. The second technique consisted of a grade IV posterior tibial mobilization while applying a tibial traction force near full knee extension 20 (Fig. 3) (Table 2). Connective tissue is known to lose extensibility related to the physiological aging process and is believed to occur secondary to collagen adaptation. The diminished extensi- bility combined with joint degeneration in patients with knee OA may cause loss of terminal knee extension and exion ROM. 21 Loss of full knee extension ROM has been shown to result in abnormal joint arthrokinematics with subsequent increases in patellofemoral and tibiofemoral joint contact pressure. 22 Weng and colleagues has demon- strated ROM of the arthritic knee joint as the main factor resulting in muscular weakness during isokinetic exercise. Therefore, when developing a program for an athletic or recreationally active patient with knee OA, improving knee joint ROM is a vital consideration. 20 The authors of this study include static and proprio- ceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching to restore muscle length of the lower extremity. In athletes TABLE 1. Nonpharmacologic Recommendations for the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis We strongly recommend that patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) should do the following Participate in cardiovascular (aerobic) and/or resistance land- based exercise Participate in aquatic exercise Lose weight (for persons who are overweight) We conditionally recommend that patients with knee OA should do the following Participate in self-management programs Receive manual therapy in combination with supervised exercise Receive psychosocial interventions Use medially directed patellar taping Wear medially wedged insoles if they have lateral compartment OA Wear laterally wedged subtalar strapped insoles if they have medial compartment OA Be instructed in the use of thermal agents Receive walking aids, as needed Participate in tai chi programs Be treated with traditional Chinese acupuncture* Be instructed in the use of transcutaneous electrical stimulation* We have no recommendations regarding the following Participation in balance exercises, either alone or in combination with strengthening exercises Wearing laterally wedged insoles Receiving manual therapy alone Wearing knee braces Using laterally directed patellar taping *These modalities are conditionally recommended only when the patient with knee OA has chronic moderate to severe pain and is a candidate for total knee replacement but either is unwilling to undergo the procedure, has comorbid medical conditions, or is taking concomitant medications that lead to a relative or absolute contraindication to surgery or a decision by the surgeon no to recommend the procedure. Reprinted from Hochberg et al 9 with permission from publisher John Wiley & Sons Inc. This material is copyrighted and any further reproduction or distribution requires written permission from John Wiley & Sons Inc. Sports Med Arthrosc Rev
Volume 21, Number 1, March 2013 Physical Therapy Management of Knee Osteoarthritis r 2013 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins www.sportsmedarthro.com | 3 with knee OA, joint capsule extensibility and quadricep, hamstring, hip exor, gastrocnemius, and soleus muscle length must be assessed because of their impact on knee function and their function when participating in athletics. Reid and McNair demonstrated a signicant increase in knee extension ROM (mean, 7.7 degrees) after a 6-week stretching program focusing on the above-mentioned lower-extremity muscle groups. The stretching intervention utilized supervised and independent stretching sessions. The relevance of the study demonstrates the importance of independent stretching exercises as an eective piece of long-term knee OA management. 21 Weng and colleagues compared isokinetic muscular strengthening exercise (group I), isokinetic exercise with static stretching (group II), and isokinetic exercise with PNF stretching (group III) in patients with knee OA. All groups demonstrated a signicant reduction in knee pain and disability with increased peak muscle torques after treatment and at follow-up. However, only groups II and III had signicant improvements in knee extension and exion ROM, with group III demonstrating the greatest increase in ROM. Group III also demonstrated the greatest increase in muscle strength gain during 180 degrees/second angular velocity peak torque testing. 20 The study results provide evidence that PNF stretching may be more eective than static stretching in the treatment of knee OA. THERAPEUTIC EXERCISE Research has reported a correlation between increased physical activity and decreased pain levels, improved function, and delayed disability. At least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity over a minimum of 5 d/wk is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control in specic regards to OA. 23 Participation in regular physical activity has been shown to provide signicant benets in the treatment of knee OA, whereas failure to remain active may exacerbate impaired joint mechanics and potentially result in articular cartilage softening and matrix dysfunction, leading to accelerated cartilage degeneration. 24 Also, indi- viduals without knee OA who opt to exercise will not have increased progression of joint degeneration as a result of their increased physical activity; indeed, they can poten- tially expect reductions in knee pain and disability as the years progress. 25 Repetitive loading of the arthritic knee joint can force compensatory movement and muscular recruitment FIGURE 1. Sustained inferior patella glide in 90-degree knee flexion. FIGURE 2. Sustained inferior patella glide nearing terminal knee extension. Adams et al Sports Med Arthrosc Rev
Volume 21, Number 1, March 2013 4 | www.sportsmedarthro.com r 2013 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins patterns of the lower extremity. Liikavaino studied gait and muscle activation changes in subjects with knee OA to examine both level and stair walking biomechanics. The authors observed minor dierences in gait kinetics during level-walking at each predetermined gait speed in patients (mean age 59 y) with knee OA as compared with healthy age-matched and sex-matched control subjects. However, patients with knee OA exhibited approximately 18% to 26% lower maximal loading rate, indicative of lighter loading of their lower extremities. The dierences in force loading parameters were magnied during more demanding motor tasks such as stair descension at higher speeds. Patients with knee OA demonstrated signicantly higher initial peak and maximal horizontal acceleration and decreased attenuation of the shock wave. Furthermore, these ndings were supported by changes in muscular recruitment during all activity. The authors hypothesized that an overall decrease in muscle strength and power in subjects with knee OA was secondary to both vastus medialis and biceps femoris infrequent muscle activation while using dierent strategies to execute the same tasks. 26 Lower-extremity strength disparities also were high- lighted by Costa who studied 25 patients with unilateral knee OA, 25 with bilateral knee OA (both with mean age 56 y) and 50 matched controls by using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Knee Lequesne Index, Western Ontario and McMaster University Arthritis Index (WOMAC) ques- tionnaire, and a Cybex (Chattanooga, TN) isokinetic assessment. For the unilateral and bilateral knee OA groups, signicantly lower peak torque was found for hip exion, extension, abduction, adduction, medial rotation, and lateral rotation at all velocities on the ipsilateral side. Even in patients with unilateral knee OA, a similar decrease in peak torque was found on the contralateral hip when compared with controls, potentially suggesting why patients with knee OA have both impaired lower-extremity muscular strength and biomechanics. 27 Traditionally, exercise programs for knee OA have focused on impairments associated with lower-extremity FIGURE 3. Caudal tibial traction coupled with posterior tibial glide. TABLE 2. Common Knee Impairments Addressed by Manual Therapy Impairments Manual Intervention Typical Delivery Loss of knee extension Manual mobilization through range of motion (ROM) and knee extension at end range Knee extension Knee extension with valgus or abduction Knee extension with varus or adduction Mobilizations grades III and IV to III ++ and IV++ 2-6 bouts of 30 s/manual technique Clinical observation: this manual intervention may provide near-immediate decrease of symptoms and may be approached with relatively more vigor than knee exion Loss of knee exion Manual mobilization through ROM and knee exion at end range Knee exion Knee exion plus medial (internal) rotation Mobilization grades of III and IV to III + and IV 2-6 bouts of 30 s/manual technique Clinical observation: pain with end-range knee exion may be due to degenerative meniscal tears: end-range techniques should be utilized with caution Loss of patellar glides Manual mobilization of the patella in 5-10 degrees of knee exion Medial Lateral Caudal Cephalad Mobilization grades of IV to IV++ 2-6 bouts of 30 s/manual technique Clinical observation: some patients may be intolerant of even slight compressive forces over the patella; therapist hand placement is important Muscle tightness Manual stretches at end length of muscle Quadriceps femoris Hamstrings Gastrocnemius Adductors Iliopsoas Tensor fascia latae and iliotibial band Sustained manual stretches of 12-30 s duration repeated 1-3 times per manual technique Clinical observation: the lumbar spine should be manually stabilized and protected during all extremity stretches; particularly hip exor stretches; many of these patients also will have arthritic changes in the spine, and symptoms can be increased without care in positioning Soft-tissue tightness Soft-tissue mobilization Suprapatellar and peripatellar regions Medial and lateral joint capsule Popliteal fossa Circular ngertip and palm pressure mobilization at the depth of the capsule or retinaculum for 1-3 bouts of 30 s/area Clinical observation: the soft-tissue work in the popliteal fossa seems to work best when performed slowly with occasional sustained positions of 10-12 s, this technique works well when combined with the manual mobilizations into knee extension Reprinted from Deyle et al 12 with permission from the American Physical Therapy Association. This material is copyrighted and any further reproduction or distribution requires written permission from APTA. Sports Med Arthrosc Rev
Volume 21, Number 1, March 2013 Physical Therapy Management of Knee Osteoarthritis r 2013 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins www.sportsmedarthro.com | 5 joint motion decits, muscle weakness, and reduced aerobic capacity. 28 Although these impairments are associated with the majority of patients with knee OA, many exercise programs inadequately focus on other aspects of ambula- tion and higher level activity such as turning, quick stop- ping, negotiating obstacles, or change in surface con- sistency. Fitzgerald et al 29 reports that a range of 11% to 44% of patients with knee OA will experience mechanical symptoms of giving way or buckling during activities of daily living. Similar mechanical symptoms are reported in patients with a decient anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Extensive research supports the application of perturbation training with nonoperative, ACL-decient patients. The study results by Axe and Snyder-Mackler 30 demonstrate a more eective return to high-level physical activity than an impairment-based standard program by exposing individ- uals to activities that challenge the knee to potentially destabilizing loads during therapy. Although there appears to be a correlation between the ACL-decient knee and knee OA symptomology, there is limited research measur- ing the proprioceptive decline in patients with knee OA and its subsequent eect on agility (Table 3). Exercise prescription for individuals with knee OA has been studied regarding the frequency, intensity, and mode of resistance and strength training has been found to be benecial for patients with knee OA. A study by Farr and colleagues looked at resistance training on overall moderate and vigorous physical activity in 171 patients with early knee OA. Patients (mean age, 55 y) participated in a resistance-training program, a self-management program, and a combined program. The resistance-training group participated in 1-hour exercise sessions that included leg press, leg curl, hip abduction and adduction, straight leg lift, incline dumbbell press, seated row, and calf raise. The self-management group was given educational classes. The groups were tested at baseline, 3 months, and 9 months and both the self-management and resistance-training groups were eective in raising moderate to vigorous physical activity levels in the short term. However, the resistance- training group proved signicantly more eective in main- taining these results long term. The results by Farr and colleagues suggest that functional exercises targeting per- formance can be useful in managing knee OA. 32 Sayers and colleagues conducted a study comparing high-speed versus slow-speed power training in 33 TABLE 3. Evidence-based Clinical Practice Guidelines Strengthening exercises Lower-extremity strengthening vs. control, level 1 (RCT, n_345): grade A for pain getting up from oor and functional status (clinically important benet); grade C for pain during walking, pain while climbing stairs, functional tasks, and quadriceps femoris muscle peak torque (clinical benet); grade C for stiness, mobility, quadriceps femoris muscle force, muscle activation, and quality of life (no benet). Patients with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee Lower-extremity isometric strengthening vs. control, level 1 (RCT, n_102): grade A for pain getting down to and up from oor (clinically important benet); grade C for pain getting down and up stairs and timed functional tasks (clinical benet); grade C for stiness and functional status (no benet). Patients with a diagnosis of OA of the knee Isotonic resistance training vs. isotonic combined with isokinetic (Kinetron) resistance training for knee, level 1 (RCT, n_32): grade C for quadriceps femoris muscle peak torque (no benet). Patients with a primary diagnosis of OA of the knee Isotonic combined with isokinetic (Kinetron) resistance training for knee vs. control, level 1 (RCT, n_32): grade C for muscle force (no benet). Patients with primary diagnosis of OA of the knee Eccentric resistance training (Cybex) for knee vs. control, level 1 (RCT, n_32): grade C for muscle force (no benet). Patients with primary diagnosis of OA of the knee Concentric resistance training for knee vs. control, level 1 (RCT, n_23): grade A for pain at rest and during activities (clinically important benet); grade C for global functional status (no benet). Patients with knee OA bilaterally and grade II or III OA Concentric-eccentric resistance training for knee vs. control, level 1 (RCT, n_23): grade A for pain at rest and during specic functional activities: 15-m walk and stair climbing/descending time (clinically important benet). Patients with knee OA bilaterally and grade II or III OA Home program strengthening for knee vs. control, level 1 (RCT, n_81): grade A for pain, functional status, energy level, and ROM in exion (clinically important benet); grade C for physical mobility, muscle force, swelling, and exercise (no benet). Patients with knee OA General lower-extremity exercise program (including muscle force, exibility, and mobility/coordination) vs. control, level 1 (RCT, n_490): grade A for pain at night and ability on stairs (clinically important benet); grade C for knee exion range of motion (ROM), muscle force, knee joint position, gait, functional status, quality of life, muscle activation, stiness, and physical activity (no benet). Patients with OA Progression vs. no-progression lower-extremity strengthening exercises, level 1 (RCT, n_179): grade A for pain at rest and ROM (clinically important benet); grade C for stiness and functional status (no benet). Patients with radiographic evidence of OA in the tibiofemoral compartment General physical activity, including tness and aerobic exercises Whole-body functional exercise vs. control, level 1 [RCT, n_864): grade A for pain and functional status (mobility, walking, work, disability in activities of daily living (ADL)] (clinically important benet); grade C for knee exor ROM, quadriceps femoris muscle force, hamstring muscle force, gait, and quality of life (no benet). Patients with OA of the knee Walking program vs. control, level 1 (RCT, n_1,089): grade A for pain, functional status, stride length, disability transferring from bed, disability bathing, aerobic capacity, energy level, and medication use (clinically important benet); grade C for disability in ADL (clinical benet); grade C for walking speed, disability toileting, disability dressing, blood pressure, morning stiness, and quality of life (no benet). Patients with OA Jogging in water vs. control, level 1 (RCT, n_115): grade A for physical activity and aerobic capacity (clinically important benet); grade C for morning stiness, pain, grip force, trunk ROM, functional status, and exercise endurance (no benet). Patients with current symptoms of chronic pain and stiness in involved weight-bearing joints Reprinted from Brosseau et al 31 with permission from the American Physical Therapy Association. This material is copyrighted and any further repro- duction or distribution requires written permission from APTA. Adams et al Sports Med Arthrosc Rev
Volume 21, Number 1, March 2013 6 | www.sportsmedarthro.com r 2013 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins participants with mean age of 67 years with knee OA. The high-speed group performed a greater number of repeti- tions at 40% of 1 repetition maximum on a leg press as fast as able, whereas the slow-speed group performed fewer repetitions at 80% of 1 repetition maximum slowly. The high-speed group improved muscle strength, power, and speed over the 12-week period. These ndings are particularly relevant in eectively treating a recreationally active population performing high-speed movements. 33 High-resistance training is shown to be equally eec- tive as low-resistance training in people with knee OA. Jan et al 34 looked at the eects of pain, function, muscle torque, and walk time in high-resistance versus low-resistance training over an 8-week period. The 2 groups performed isokinetic knee exion and extension training at high- resistance (mean age, 63 y) and low-resistance (mean age, 63 y) session over 3 episode/wk. Both groups improved in all categories compared with the control group (mean age, 62 y). In another study regarding resistance training, Gur and colleagues looked at the eects of concentric versus concentric-eccentric quadricep and hamstring strengthening on functional capacity and pain levels in patients aged 41 to 75 years old with knee OA. They determined an 8-week program of isokinetic quadriceps and hamstring strength- ening performed 3 times/wk resulted in the concentric- eccentric group displaying a greater eect on functional activities, including stair ascension and descension while concentric training exhibited improvements in overall pain rating. The results of the study show that extensive training involving high number of repetitions and eccentric con- tractions are safe, eective, and productive in patients with knee OA. 35 Isokinetic versus progressive resistance exercise (PRE) of the quadriceps and hamstrings was studied by Eiygor. Knee exion and extension strengthening was assessed 3 times/wk in the isokinetic group (mean age, 53 y) and 5 times/wk in the PRE group (mean age, 51 y) over a 6-week period. Both modes of strengthening were found to be eective in achieving strength gains and subjective decreases in pain and function. There was no signicant dierence found between the 2 groups in overall reports of pain, function, or peak torque of the tested muscles. 36 Consideration of the surrounding musculature of the hip and ankle joints when prescribing exercise for the patient with knee OA is also important. Both dynamic and isometric training of the entire lower extremity represent eective modes of resistance strengthening in people with knee OA. Topp and colleagues conducted a 16-week study comparing dynamic and isometric training, specic to eects on pain level and physical function. Two groups trained the same 6 lower-extremity muscle groups: ankle plantar and dorsiexors, knee extensors and exors, and hip extensors and exors. The isometric group (mean age, 64 y) used maximum resistance Thera-band (The Hygienic Corporation, Akron, OH), whereas the dynamic group (mean age, 66 y) used appropriate-level resistance Thera- band to achieve the desired muscle activation. Both resist- ance-training groups exhibited similar, signicant declines in reported knee pain and decrease in time to perform functional tasks, whereas the control group remained unchanged over the duration of the study. Only the dynamic training reduced perceived functional limitations, and the control group (mean age, 61 y) did not change their measures on any of the outcome variables over the duration of the study. 37 MODALITIES The trend of increased incidence of knee OA in a younger, more active population has developed a role for therapeutic modalities in the conservative management of functionally limiting impairments associated with knee OA. ES, therapeutic ultrasound (US), LLLT, and thermo- therapeutic agents such as heat and ice packs represent common noninvasive, nonpharmacological treatment app- roaches often coupled with therapeutic exercise to treat patients with articular degradation and other joint changes associated with knee OA. ES is a commonly used treatment option to relieve pain and improve function in patients with knee OA. Three pri- mary forms of ES were identied during this articles liter- ature review: interferential current (IFC), neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). The eectiveness of IFC treatment in patients with knee OA has been researched extensively with variable results suggesting short-term improvement in pain and function. However, as Adedoyin and colleagues comment in their paper, studies have largely failed to show benet over con- trolled groups receiving an exercise program or sham treat- ment. In a randomized control trial (RCT) of 46 subjects with mean age of 55 years, subjects in 3 groups receiving IFC, TENS, or exercise program alone all reported improved levels of pain and function as dened by the WOMAC. 38 To further highlight inconsistencies in this eld of study, consider a recent RCT by Gundog and Atamaz of 60 patients with median age of 60 years and mild to moderate knee OA. Patients were treated 5 times/wk for 3 weeks consecutively with IFC treatment and compared with a sham-controlled group. The authors concluded that IFC treatment was an eective intervention in the management of knee OA, while also noting both IFC and controlled groups demonstrated signicant improvements in pain and function as dened by the WOMAC. 39 Related systematic reviews conducted by Hawker and Mian 40 and Jamtvedt and Dahm 41 support these ndings, concluding that results in patients with knee OA are unclear because of low quality of evidence and a general heterogeneity of study parameters. Less empirical data exist to support NMES as an eective therapeutic agent to improve pain or function scores in patients with knee OA. In a RCT conducted by Palmieri-Smith and Thomas, 30 women with mean age of 57 years and radiographic evidence of knee OA were pro- vided either NMES treatment 3 times/wk for 4 weeks or no treatment over the same time period. The authors hypothesized that the group receiving NMES would dem- onstrate improved quadriceps activation and strength when compared with the controlled group. After a priori power analysis, the research group determined no statistically signicant increase in quadriceps activation or strength in the intervention group of patients receiving NMES. 42 Although patients in this study, and the IFC trials men- tioned above, are slightly older than middle-aged athletes, principles of ecacy with respect to individuals with mild to moderate knee OA are expected to remain constant. TENS represents another commonly used modality in treatment of knee OA, although ecacy with respect to functional mobility and joint stiness is generally incon- clusive. In a meta-analysis by Brosseau and Yonge, the reviewers reported a statistically signicant reduction in pain levels in the treatment of patients with knee OA. As such, the authors recommended TENS as an adjunct Sports Med Arthrosc Rev
Volume 21, Number 1, March 2013 Physical Therapy Management of Knee Osteoarthritis r 2013 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins www.sportsmedarthro.com | 7 therapy for the treatment of knee OA. 43 Similarly, a sys- tematic review by Jamtvedt and Dahm concluded that there is moderate evidence that TENS reduces pain when com- pared with a placebo intervention in treatment of knee OA. 41 However, in contrast, a 2010 Cochrane review by Rutjes and Nu esch concluded that the current level of evidence to support the ecacy of TENS treatment in patients with knee OA with respect to pain and function is inadequate because of inclusion of small trials with uncer- tain methodology. 44 The ecacy of therapeutic US treatment in patients with knee OA has been sharply contended over the past several decades. Both nonthermal and thermal eects on localized pain, inammation, and tissue repair remain in question. In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind study by Tascioglu and Kuzgun, the short-term eectiveness of ther- apeutic US was tested in 90 patients with moderate knee OA. The patients with a mean age of 62 were treated with either continuous, pulsed, or sham US for a duration of 5 min/ session, 5 d/wk for 2 weeks. The authors reported signicant improvements in pain levels, via the VAS, and functional status, via the WOMAC, across all the 3 groups. When compared with the placebo group, patients receiving pulsed US reported signicantly improved scores on the VAS and WOMAC. Thus, Tascioglu and Kuzgun 45 determined that pulsed US represents an eective short-term treatment approach for decreasing pain and improving function in patients with moderate knee OA. In another Cochrane review by Rutjes and Nu esch and a systematic review of RCTs with meta-analysis by Loyola- Sanchez and colleagues therapeutic US in patients with knee OA was investigated. Both reviews report that ther- apeutic US may represent an ecacious treatment modality in the management of patients with knee OA. 46,47 Speci- cally, Loyola-Sanchez et al 47 concluded that pulsed US at low intensities has a signicant eect on pain reduction in patients with knee OA when compared with continuous US and sham. Despite the ndings, both authors acknowledge a low quality of evidence and a large degree of hetero- geneity in study parameters, ultimately conceding to the need for additional study in this eld. 45,47 Several studies have reported positive eects from LLLT including inuences on broblast propagation, osteoblast production, and collagen synthesis as well as revascularization in wound healing. In a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial by Hegedu s and Viharos, 27 patients with mean age of 42 years and mild to moderate knee OA received either LLLT or placebo LLLT. Patients received treatment twice a week over a 4-week period at a continuous wave form and dose of 6 J/point. Hegedu s and Viharos found patients treated with the active laser diode demonstrated a signicant improvement in pain, knee circumference, point pressure sensitivity, and knee exion compared with the control group. Still more impressive is that the authors report patients in the active LLLT group continued to present with improved test var- iables 2 months after treatment. 48 Further, Jamtvedt and colleagues discussed similar ndings in their systematic review, concluding that moderate-quality evidence supports the positive anti-inammatory eects of LLLT on pain and function in patients with knee OA. 41,48 Thermotherapy produces localized thermal eects on supercial target areas, depending on clinical indications and desired therapeutic outcomes. In a Cochrane review by Brosseau and Yonge, thermotherapeutic treatment of knee OA was discussed with respect to knee ROM, pain, strength, edema, and function. Brosseau and Yonge deter- mined that ice massage, compared with control, had a statistically signicant eect on knee ROM and function. The authors concluded that ice massage (20 min/session, 5 sessions/wk for 2 wk) represents an eective adjunct treatment in patients with knee OA demonstrating decits associated with knee ROM and function. However, the authors do acknowledge a general heterogeneity in study parameters, citing variable methodology with respect to outcome results and test administration. 43 Discrepancy in research standards is echoed in a systematic review by Jamtvedt and Dahm, 41 who concluded due to small sample sizes and low quality of studies, the ecacy of thermo- therapeutic agents on pain and function in patients with knee OA is inconsistent and therefore unclear. Ultimately, there is low-quality evidence to support the use of IFC, NMES, and thermotherapy 3844 ; variable low- quality to moderate-quality evidence to support therapeutic US and TENS 38,41,4448 ; and, moderate-quality evidence to support LLLT in the treatment of patients with knee OA. 41,48 Currently, therapeutic exercise and weight reduction possess the highest quality of evidence with respect to eects on pain, inammation, and stiness in patients with knee OA. 41 In light of these ndings, further studies are needed to unequivocally substantiate the use of therapeutic modalities in treating middle-aged athletes with knee OA. PATIENT EDUCATION, WEIGHT MANAGEMENT, ORTHOTICS OARSI recommends patients with knee OA to be provided with information pertaining to treatment options and lifestyle modications related to functional impair- ments and excessive joint loading. 11 Arguably, the most inuential risk factor associated with increased internal knee adductor moments (KAM), a clinically accepted identier of moderate to advanced medial joint knee OA, is increased body mass. Research consistently substantiates obesity correlating signicantly with both the incidence and progression of knee OA. Weight management, and ulti- mately weight loss, therefore represents the treatment option of choice in patients presenting with knee OA. In a study by Aaboe and Blidda, the authors found a signicant reduction in knee joint loads during walking among sub- jects with an average body weight reduction of 13.7 kg (13.5% decrease relative to baseline) after a 16-week dietary intervention course. Aaboe and Blidda 49 conclude that weight loss represents an excellent short-term approach to decreasing functional limitations associated with increased joint loading in patients with knee OA. Alternative approaches to decrease joint loading forces in patients with knee OA include utilization of shoe wedges, knee braces, and assistive devices. Although the level of evi- dence supporting these intervention strategies remains vari- able, the biomechanical advantage gained by redistributing ground reaction forces (GRFs) during contact phase of gait is supported by experts in their respective elds. 11 This bio- mechanical understanding of GRFs during gait reveals another rehabilitation trend found in literature; namely, that all patients with knee OA be educated on appropriate foot- wear as pertains to specic activity demands and impairments associated with articular changes found in with knee OA. 11,5052 Although authors agree that footwear recom- mendations should be provided to all patients with knee OA, Adams et al Sports Med Arthrosc Rev
Volume 21, Number 1, March 2013 8 | www.sportsmedarthro.com r 2013 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins the most eective type of shoe (ie, stability, cushioned, min- imalist) remains in question. 5052 An individualized inter- vention approach is required when assessing middle-aged patients with knee OA, specic to activity demands, pro- gression of disease, body composition, work/sport environ- ment, and foot strike pattern. A shock-absorbing insole may represent the ideal foot- wear choice for an obese, heel-striking patient with increased internal KAM and moderate medial tibiofemoral joint compartment narrowing, while a shoe designed to simulate barefoot mechanics may represent the desired footwear approach in a midfoot-strike athletic population presenting with early evidence of knee OA. The latter example describ- ing innovative footwear is more specic to this paper and has recently been reported to signicantly reduce dynamic knee loads during gait through proposed increased sensorimotor input and neuromuscular communication. 50,51 In addition to KAM-modifying and GRF-reducing wedges and supports, the importance of activity modication represents an essential educational component when treating middle-aged athletes with knee OA. As Vignon and his col- leagues reported in their 2006 international systematic review, athletes should be made aware that the risk of knee OA is associated with duration and intensity of joint exposure; however, this risk is considerably less than being overweight or having a history of joint trauma. Further, middle-aged athletes with knee OA should be encouraged to engage reg- ularly in recreational sport, provided the activity does not cause pain. No specic sport (long-distance running, tennis, soccer, eld hockey, basketball, track and eld, cross-country skiing, and hockey) demonstrated a signicantly increased risk of knee OA when compared with others, but patients should be encouraged to change sport involving high risk of joint trauma. 8 Middle-aged athletes are encouraged to continue rec- reational sport as no correlation exists between practice of a regular sport and clinical or radiographic progression of knee OA. 13 In adddition, as highlighted earlier in this paper, the role of exercise in treating impairments asso- ciated with knee OA has been well established and coincides with improved functional outcomes. Therefore, as a pre- ventative measure and rehabilitation staple, we recommend that the middle-aged athlete continue recreational sportin a pain-free contextas research substantiates the associa- tion between increased physical activity and improved reports of pain, physical function, physical performance, and perceived eect in patients with knee OA. 53 CONCLUSIONS In summary, knee OA is a prevalent condition in the middle-aged, athletic population causing signicant phys- ical impairments and functional limitations in tness, rec- reational, and competitive activities. Many nonpharmacologic interventions for the management of knee OA have been researched in the past decade. Several research groups and organizations, including OASIS, OARSI, and American College of Rheumatology, have developed guidelines based upon available evidence-based information in the literature. Conservative interventions such as manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, thermal and electromagnetic modal- ities, patient education, weight management, and orthotic/ bracing/supports have been investigated. Overall, strong evidence exists for utilization of manual therapy techniques of joint and soft-tissue mobilization and passive and PNF stretching in the management of knee OA. Also, ther- apeutic exercise, including resistance (ie, closed-chain, iso- kinetic, and PRE) training and cardiovascular training has been suggested in many studies. Other strongly supported interventions include patient education regarding activity modication/pacing and symptom management and weight management strategies, particularly in an overweight/ obese, middle-aged population. Other nonpharmacologic management techniques for treatment of knee OA include modalities, such as ES, therapeutic US, LLLT, and thermal agents. In many instances, conicting evidence abounds and often neither supports nor refutes the benet provided by many of the modality interventions. Although an abundance of evi- dence-based research on OA has been developed, a void remains in the research within a middle-aged athletic pop- ulation in the context of knee OA and conservative management. REFERENCES 1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Prevalence and most common causes of disability among adultsUnited States, 2005. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2009;58:421426. 2. Yelin, et al. Medical care expenditures and earnings losses among persons with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in 2003, and comparisons with 1997. Arthritis Rheum. 2007;56: 13971407. 3. Hootman JM, Helmick CG. Projections of US prevalence of arthritis and associated activity limitations. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:226229. 4. Murphy L, Helmick CG. The impact of osteoarthritis in the United States: a population-health perspective. Am J Nurs. 2012;112:S13S19. 5. Rajabi R, Johnson GM, Alizadeh MH, et al. Radiographic knee osteoarthritis in ex-elite table tennis players. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2012;13:12. 6. Kujit M-TK, Inklaar H, Gouttebarge V, et al. Knee and ankle osteoarthritis in former elite soccer players: a systematic review of the recent literature. J Sci Med Sport. 2012. [Epub ahead of print]. 7. Spector TD, Harris PA, Hart DJ, et al. Risk of osteoarthritis associated with long-term weight-bearing sports: a radiologic survey of the hips and knees in female ex-athletes and population controls. Arthritis Rheum. 1996;39:988995. 8. Vignon E, Valat JP, Rossignol M, et al. Osteoarthritis of the knee and hip and activity: a systematic international review and synthesis (OASIS). Joint Bone Spine. 2006;73:442455. 9. Hochberg MC, Altman RD, April KT, et al. American College of Rheumatology 2012 Recommendations for the use of non- pharmacologic and pharmacologic therapies in osteoarthritis of the hand, hip, and knee. Arthritis Care Res. 2012;64:465474. 10. Zhang W, Moskowitz RW, Nuki G, et al. OARSI recom- mendations for the management of hip and knee osteoarthritis, part I: critical appraisal of existing treatment guidelines and systematic review of current research evidence. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2007;15:9811000. 11. Zhang W, Moskowitz RW, Nuki G, et al. OARSI recom- mendations for the management of hip and knee osteoarthritis, part II: OARSI evidence-based, expert consensus guidelines. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2008;16:137162. 12. Deyle G, Allison S, Matekal R, et al. Physical therapy treatment effectiveness for osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized comparison of supervised clinical exercise and manual therapy procedures versus a home exercise program. Phys Ther. 2005;85:13011317. 13. Mangione K, Axen K. Mechanical unweighting effects on treadmill exercise and pain in elderly people with osteoarthritis of the knee. Phys Ther. 1996;76:387394. Sports Med Arthrosc Rev
Volume 21, Number 1, March 2013 Physical Therapy Management of Knee Osteoarthritis r 2013 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins www.sportsmedarthro.com | 9 14. Deyle G, Henderson N, Matekal R, et al. Effectiveness of manual physical therapy and exercise in osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 2000; 132:173181. 15. French HP, Brennan A, White B, et al. Manual therapy for osteoarthritis of the hip or kneea systematic review. Man Ther. 2011;16:109117. 16. Moss P, Sluka K, Wright A. The initial effects of knee joint mobilization on osteoarthritic hyperalgesia. Man Ther. 2007; 12:109118. 17. Sambajon VV, Cillo JE, Gassner RJ, et al. The effects of mechanical strain on synovial fibroblasts. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2003;61:707712. 18. Pollard H, Ward G, Hoskins W, et al. The effect of a manual therapy knee protocol on osteoarthritic knee pain: a random- ized controlled trial. J Can Chirop Assoc. 2008;52:229242. 19. Cook C. Orthopedic Manual Therapy: An Evidence-Based Approach, Vol 4. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall; 2007:5569. 20. Weng MC, Lee CL, Chen CH, et al. Effects of different stretching techniques on the outcomes of isokinetic exercise in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Kaohsiung J Med Sci. 2009;25:306315. 21. Reid D, McNair P. Effects of a six week lower limb stretching programme on range of motion, peak passive torque and stiffness in people with and without osteoarthritis of the knee. N Z J Physiother. 2011;39:512. 22. Wilk K, Macrina L, Cain E, et al. Recent advances in the rehabilitation of anterior cruciate ligament injuries. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2012;42:153171. 23. Thompson PD, Buchner D, Pina I, et al. Treatment and prevention of osteoarthritis through exercise and sports. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2003;23:e42e49. 24. Esser S, Bailey A. Effects of exercise and physical activity on knee osteoarthritis. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2011;15:423430. 25. Valderrabano V, Steiger C. Treatment and prevention of osteoarthritis through exercise and sports. J Aging Res. 2011; 3746537 (1-6 pgs). 26. Liikavainio T. Gait and muscle activation changes in men with knee osteoarthritis. Knee. 2010;17:6976. 27. Costa RA. Isokinetic assessment of the hip muscles in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Clinics. 2010;65:12531259. 28. Hinman R. Hip muscles weakness in individuals with medial knee osteoarthritis. Arthritis Care Res. 2010;62:11901193. 29. Fitzgerald GK, Piva SR, Irrgang JJ. Reports of joint instability in knee osteoarthritis: its prevalence and relationship to physical function. Arthritis Rheum. 2004;51:941946. 30. Axe MJ, Snyder-Mackler L. The efficacy of perturbation training in non-operative anterior cruciate ligament rehabilitation programs for physically active individuals. Phys Ther. 2000;80:128140. 31. Brosseau L, Wells G, Tugwell P, et al. Ottawa Panel Evidence- Based Clinical Practice Guidelines for therapeutic exercise and manual therapy in the management of osteoarthritis. Phys Ther. 2005;85:907971. 32. Farr JN, Going SB, McKnight PE, et al. Progressive resistance training improves overall physical activity level in patients with early osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled trial. Phys Ther. 2010;90:356366. 33. Sayers SP, Gibson K, Cook CR. Effect of high-speed power training on muscle performance, function, and pain in older adults with knee osteoarthritis: a pilot investigation. Arthritis Care Res. 2012;64:4653. 34. Jan M, Lin J, Liau J, et al. Investigation of clinical effects of high- and low-resistance training for patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. Phys Ther. 2008;88:427436. 35. Gur H, Nilgun C, Akova B, et al. Concentric versus combined concentric-eccentric isokinetic training: effects on functional capacity and symptoms in patients with osteoarthrosis of the knee. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2002;83:308316. 36. Eiygor S. A comparison of muscle training methods in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Clin Rheumatol. 2004;23:109115. 37. Topp R, Woolley S, Hornyak J III, et al. Effect of dynamic versus isometric resistance training on pain and functioning among adults with osteoarthritis of the knee. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2002;83:11871195. 38. Adedoyin R, Olaogun M, Oyeyemi A. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and interferential current combined with exercise for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. Hong Kong Physiother J. 2005; 23:1319. 39. Gundog M, Atamaz F. Interferential current therapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Am J Phys Med Rehab. 2012;91:107113. 40. Hawker GA, Mian S. Osteoarthritis year 2010 in review: non- pharmacologic therapy. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2011;19: 366374. 41. Jamtvedt G, Dahm K. Physical therapy intervention for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: an overview of systematic reviews. Phys Ther. 2008;88:123136. 42. Palmieri-Smith R, Thomas A. A clinical trial of neuromuscular electrical stimulation in improving quadriceps muscle strength and activation among women with mild and moderate osteo- arthritis. Phys Ther. 2010;90:14411452. 43. Brosseau L, Yonge KA. Thermotherapy for treatment of osteoarthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2003;4:CD004522. 44. Rutjes AWS, Nu esch E. Transcutaneous electrostimulation for osteoarthritis of the knee. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009; 4:CD002823. 45. Tascioglu F, Kuzgun S. Short-term effectiveness of ultrasound therapy in knee osteoarthritis. J Int Med Res. 2010;38: 12331242. 46. Rutjes AWS, Nu esch E. Therapeutic ultrasound for osteo- arthritis of the knee of hip. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010;1:CD003132. 47. Loyola-Sa nchez A, Richardson J, MacIntyre NJ. Efficacy of ultrasound therapy for the management of knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Osteoarthritis Carti- lage. 2010;18:11171126. 48. Hegedu s B, Viharos L. The effect of low-level laser in knee osteoarthritis: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Photomed Laser Surg. 2009;27:577584. 49. Aaboe J, Blidda H. Effects of an intensive weight loss program on knee joint loading in obese adults with knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2011;19:822828. 50. Shakoor N, Lidtke R. Effects of specialized footwear on joint loads in osteoarthritis of the knee. Arthritis Care Res. 2008; 59:12141220. 51. Shakoor N, Sengupta M. Effects of common footwear on joint loading in osteoarthritis of the knee. Arthritis Care Res. 2010; 62:917923. 52. Turpin K, De Vincenzo A. Biomechanical and clinical outcomes with shock-absorbing insoles in patients with knee osteoarthritis: immediate effects and changes after 1 month of wear. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2012;93:503508. 53. Pisters M, Veenhof C. Exercise adherence improving long-term patient outcome in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip and/ or knee. Arthritis Care Res. 2010;62:10871094. Adams et al Sports Med Arthrosc Rev
Volume 21, Number 1, March 2013 10 | www.sportsmedarthro.com r 2013 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Effectiveness of Mulligan's Mobilization Technique Versus Eccentric Exercises On Pain, Hand Grip Strength and Function in Subjects With Lateral Epicondylitis
International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology