Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022 Aug 23:2022:2690871.
doi: 10.1155/2022/2690871. eCollection 2022.

Isometric Quadriceps Exercises for Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Knee Joint Position Flexion versus Extension

Alaattin Sengul  1 , Melek Gunes Yavuzer  2 , Ozal Keles  3 , Ayse Nur Tunali  2 , Deniz Tuncer  4
Affiliations

Isometric Quadriceps Exercises for Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Knee Joint Position Flexion versus Extension

Alaattin Sengul et al. Rehabil Res Pract. .

Abstract

Objective: To compare the effect of quadriceps isometric exercises performed in two different positions in addition to the combined physical therapy program on pain, stiffness, and physical function in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: A total of 30 patients with OA (age range 45 to 70 years) who were admitted to Istanbul Private Ekotom Medical Center, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Outpatient Clinic, were included. The patients were randomly divided into two groups according to the type of performing the quadriceps isometric exercises as group 1 (performing in knee extension, n = 14) and group 2 (performing in knee flexion, n = 15). All patients also received a combined physical therapy program. Exercise protocols were applied six days a week for four weeks. The pain was evaluated using a 10 cm visual analog scale for pain (VAS) in rest and activity; pain, joint stiffness, and physical function were assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC).

Results: A significant difference was found in the VAS and WOMAC scores of both groups in group comparisons (p < 0.05). When the groups were compared in terms of change values, a significant difference was found in the WOMAC stiffness score in favor of group I (p < 0.05). Discussion. It is possible to obtain positive results with quadriceps isometric exercises to reduce pain and joint stiffness and increase physical function in patients with knee OA. However, exercises performed in knee extension were found to be more effective in reducing joint stiffness.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram of the study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. McCarty D. J., Koopman W. J. Arthritis and Allied Conditions: A Textbook of Rheumatology. Archives of Dermatology . 1993;129(9):p. 1230. doi: 10.1001/archderm.1993.01680300160038. - DOI
    1. Hunter D. J., Bierma-Zeinstra S. Osteoarthritis. The Lancet . 2019;393(10182):1745–1759. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30417-9. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Hunter D. J., Schofield D., Callander E. The individual and socioeconomic impact of osteoarthritis. Nature Reviews Rheumatology . 2014;10(7):437–441. doi: 10.1038/nrrheum.2014.44. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Gamble R., Wyeth-Ayerst J., Johnson E. L., Searle W.-A., Beecham S. Recommendations for the medical management of osteoarthritis of the hip and knee: 2000 update. Arthritis and Rheumatism . 2000;43(9):1905–1915. doi: 10.1002/1529-0131(200009)43:9<1905::AID-ANR1>3.0.CO;2-P. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Magee D. J. Orthopedic physical assessment. Journal of Hand Therapy . 1998;11:286–286.

LinkOut - more resources