Swati Meshram, Sandhya Gupta and Medha Deo
Background: Lower limb muscles strengthening are crucial in knee joint rehabilitation. Weight training as evolved by DeLorm is a more traditional robust form of Progressive resistive exercises (PREx) program in which muscles are exercised against constant resistance through the arc of motion. Use of Elastic bands is yet another tool used in strengthening exercise regimens. What popularly known as Theraband exercises, resistance varies through the arc and relies on various components such as modulus of elasticity. The characteristic differences of theses 2 modes of resisted exercise was assumed to result in different outcomes on measured knee related functions. Hence, this study has been undertaken to compare the short term effects PREx using weight cuffs versus Theraband resistance exercise in patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis.
Methods: Eighty-nine participants completed this trial over the period of 14 months. Study participants were randomly allocated to 3 study groups which received PREx (DeLorm) (n=30), Theraband exercises (n=30) and conventional treatment (n=29) for 3 week period.
Results: Interaction between time and function was significant when compared with control whereas both experimental groups improved equally (P>0.05) over the period of time. Post treatment Weight cuff (DeLorm) and Theraband PREx between group differences (median difference and probability of superiority (PS) is presented for 5 Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) subscales and patient specific function are as follows.
Pain: 6.5 (36%); symptoms 11(43%); ADL 5.5(45%), Sport and recreation 5(35%), QOL, PSFS 0.75(37%).
Conclusion: Both the weight cuff PREx (DeLorm) and Theraband resistance exercises resulted in improvement of knee functions as measured on KOOS and patient specific functional scale in population suffering from knee osteoarthritis with better probability of superiority for weight cuff exercises.