EFFECTIVENESS OF RETROWALKING IN PAIN AND FUNCTIONAL DISABILITIES IN OSTEOARTHRITIS KNEE

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is a common degenerative joint disorder that leads to pain, reduced mobility, and functional limitations, creating a significant social and family burden. Risk factors can be both modifiable (age, gender) and non-modifiable (occupation, sports). Retro walking, a closed kinematic chain exercise, has been utilized for decades and may provide therapeutic benefits for OA knee patients. Objective: To determine the effectiveness of retro walking in reducing pain and improving functional abilities in individuals with OA knee. Methods: A narrative review was conducted using PubMed and Cochrane Library, focusing on articles published in the last ten years. Studies were selected based on inclusion criteria: retro walking as the intervention for OA knee, pain as a primary outcome, and randomized controlled trials (RCT) or systematic reviews (SR). Four articles, including three RCTs, met the criteria. Pain was assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and functional disability with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Protocol Summary: Participants aged 40–70 years with Grade 1–3 OA knee and NPRS ≤ 4 underwent a retro walking program for 10 minutes per session (including warm-up and cool- down), three times per week for 3–6 weeks, covering distances of 10–30 meters. Safety was monitored, and any adverse events led to discontinuation. Results: The review revealed highly significant improvement in pain and significant improvement in functional disability across studies. Conclusion: Retro walking is an effective adjunct to conventional therapy for decreasing pain and functional disabilities in OA knee patients, offering a simple, low-cost, and safe exercise option for rehabilitation.