Original Research Article
Year: 2022 | Month: March | Volume: 12 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 326-345
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20220344
Effectiveness of Retro Walking in Women with Osteoarthritis of Knee
Elseba Baby1, Arun Thachil2
1P.G. Student, (Musculoskeletal), College of Physiotherapy, Medical Trust Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi – 682309.
2Professor, College of Physiotherapy, Medical Trust Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi – 682309.
Corresponding Author: Arun Thachil
ABSTRACT
Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is a major cause of mobility impairment, particularly among females. The incidence of osteoarthritis (OA) increases after menopause, and may be related to hormonal changes in women. Estrogen deficiency is known to affect the development of OA.
Methodology: Eighteen post-menopausal women with knee Osteoarthritis of age 45-75 were assessed and selected for the study who satisfies the inclusion criteria and were assigned into two groups of 9 subjects each. In Group A the experimental group underwent a protocol with retro-walking along with conventional exercises and Group B conventional group was treated with Static Quadriceps, Terminal Knee Extension, IFT exercises and performed it for 3 months and the study period was 3 weeks. The outcome measures were the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) scale, Modified Sphygmomanometer Test (MST), Timed Up to Go Test (TUGT). Using these outcome measures pre-test and post-test value were obtained.
Result: The results were analyzed using paired and independent t- test. The significance level was kept as p < 0.05. In case of pain, there were significant difference between the pre- test and post-test WOMAC (pain) scores in both experimental and conventional groups, p< 0.001, p < 0.001 respectively. In the group comparison of WOMAC, the obtained p value was 0.015 (p < 0.05), hence there was a significant difference in post-test scores between the two groups. The mean difference 10 shows that the improvement is more significant in Experimental group.
In case of functional mobility, there were significant difference between pre-test and post-test TUG scores in both experimental and conventional groups, p < 0.001, p < 0.01 respectively. In the group comparison, the obtained p value was 0.04 (p < 0.05), hence there was significant difference in post -test scores between the experimental and conventional groups. The mean difference 3.6 portrayed that the, Experimental group showed more significant improvement.
In case of muscle strength, there were significant difference existing between the pre-test and post-test scores in both experimental and conventional groups, p < 0.001, p < 0.05. When the two groups were compared, the obtained p value was 0.02(p < 0.05) and hence there was significant difference in post -test scores between both the groups. The mean difference 7.2 shows more significant improvement in the Experimental group. Although both groups showed improvement, the scores in the experimental group are significantly higher than that of the conventional group.
Conclusion: The study concluded that experimental group shows better in pain reduction, quadriceps muscle strength and functional mobility in experimental than control group.
Key words: Osteoarthritis, Knee joint, Post-menopausal, Retro-walking, Pain, Muscle Strength, functional mobility, Quadriceps muscle.