Efficacy of Proprioceptive and Strengthening Exercise on Functional Ability in Osteoarthritis (OA) Knee: Quasi Experimental Study

Background: Proprioceptive training improves knee function in Osteoarthritis (OA) patients and quadriceps muscle strengthening is known to mitigate the symptoms of knee OA and improve knee function. Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation of the afflicted area is closely related to deteriorated mobility and pain and restoring proprioceptive neuromuscular function is essential during the final stage of a rehabilitation program. Aim & objective of the study: The aim of this study is to find the effect of proprioceptive exercise with strengthening exercise on functional ability in patients with Knee Osteoarthritis. Data Analysis and Results: This study results shows that there is statistically significant improvement in the variables of pain in VAS and pain free knee extension ROM (Range of Motion) between pre and post mean values in both control and experimental group with p<0.001. The Post mean values of pain in VAS and pain free knee extension ROM shows significant improvement with P-Values p<0.001 in Experimental Group when compared to Control Group. Conclusion: There was statistically significant improvement pain in Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and pain free knee extension ROM in both the groups. This study concluded that proprioceptive exercises along with strengthening exercises shows a significant improvement on pain in VAS and pain free knee extension ROM when compared to strengthening exercise alone in patient’s osteoarthritis of knee.