RESEARCH REPORT

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effects of manual traction in knee arthritis patients in comparison to electrotherapy (TENS).

STUDY DESIGN

Randomized Control Trial (Experimental Study).

STUDY SETTINGS & PARTICIPANTS

Study was conducted in a Tertiary Care Hospital with a sample of 310 participants.

INTERVENTIONS

Manual traction and Electrotherapy Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) will be used to manage pain in patients with Knee Osteoarthritis.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Oxford Knee Pain Scale was used to measure pain and functional activities.

RESULTS

Improvements were seen in both groups but results of manual traction were more significant. There were major differences present in knee pain intensity before and after treatment. The group that received manual traction reported a decrease in the severity of pain of mean 15.01 which is comparatively better than the group that received electro therapy and reported a decrease in severity of pain of mean 12.42.

CONCLUSION

The result of this research supports the application of manual TF joint traction as a mean of stretching shortened articular and periarticular tissues with decreased in levels of pain either during the treatment or at the end of session. There is significant improvement in knee flexion AROM. Pain level decreases during every treatment session.

KEY WORDS

Knee Pain, Traction, Mobilization, Tibio-Femoral Joint, TENS, Knee OA.

Sunny Kumar

Physiotherapist

Ziauddin Hospital Clifton

Usman Khan

Senior Lecturer

Ziauddin College of Physical Therapy

Qurat ul Ain Adnan

Senior Lecturer

Ziauddin College of Physical Therapy

Ziauddin University

[Kumar S, Khan MU, Adnan QA. Effectiveness of Manual Traction in Comparison to Electrotherapy in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis. Pak. J. rehabil.2014;3(2):26-30]

INTRODUCTION

Knee pain is known as one of the frequently reported cases involving musculoskeletal conditions, 22-23% of the population suffer from the condition around the age of 65 years. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, according to the National Health Service, USA. 8.5 million People are affected by this condition. The arthritis foundation of USA, also states that almost 27 million of Americans are suffering from this condition1. Prevalence rates are higher in females than in males2.The knee joint, along with other major weight bearing joints of the body including hip joints and spine are more prone to damage by going through degenerative changes3.

Osteoarthritis is usually the main cause of knee pain in elderly individuals4. Knee osteoarthritis produces significant changes which may affect many other aspects of life including health related quality of life, physical, mental and social components of health are affected by these degenerative changes.

 Osteoarthritis is a progressive, irreversible disease. Signs and symptoms gradually get worse over a period of time. Since it is an irreversible disease, there is no cure. However, available therapies may help with pain reduction, subside inflammation and swelling. These therapies also play an important role in muscle strengthening, to keep the patients mobile and active. Experts say that patients who take steps to actively manage their osteoarthritis are more likely to overcome their symptoms.

Motion impairments attributed to many other causes which includes immobilization following any injury5, surgical interventions to repair or remove menisci6,7 and osteoarthritis8,9, itself.

Soft tissue changes around the knee joint can lead to decrease in strength of the quadriceps muscles and sagital range of motion, which may further lead to increased soft tissue contracture10. These changes all together produce a typical clinical picture of joint pain, and stiffness at rest.

These symptoms further lead to difficulty face by patients to perform daily activities and weight bearing. This facilitates progression in disability11.

The treatment of knee osteoarthritis is currently limited to symptoms management, rather than progression control12. An evidence based approach to management of osteoarthritis should include patient guidance and awareness about the disease, pain control, options to improve functions, decrease disability, and prevent disease progression13.

Treatments commonly available involve pharmacological treatments, non-pharmacological strategies and surgical interventions. Analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs are widely used in management14, despite known serious adverse effects associated with long term NSAID suse,

Paracetamol is known as primary oral analgesic, if successful the long-term use preferred. These types of therapies help to deal with symptoms. Osteoarthritis is often viewed as a problem of biomechanical functions. In order to treat the large and growing numbers of sufferer’s various treatment options besides the use of medicine are utilized. Thus, many patients visit practitioners who provide therapies which intend to improve functional activities. Concerns regarding lost function, include ability to ambulate are addressed through different forms of physical therapy. These therapies include strength-based and exercise program to achieve their long-term goal that is functional capability and ambulation.

Treatment plan consisting of an aerobic walking and strengthening exercises of quadriceps give desired results 17.

For the treatment of pain and motion impairment(s) the healthcare professionals in spine and peripheral joints utilize their purpose of joint mobilization for treatment. Most of the research studies used techniques that are aimed at the spine and upper extremities, with a lesser amount of evidence for the efficacy of lower extremities mobilization. The manual therapy shows effective results in improving flexion of knee joint also shows effectiveness in climbing stairs in patients suffering from anterior knee pain and also little amount of improvement in knee pain17.

Muscle strength, proprioception and functional performance seems to be effectively improved when manual therapy combined with appropriate exercise therapy, then just a randomized exercise therapy. When muscle strength is lost and there is decreased activity of extensors of knee found to be associated with anterior knee pain, this refers to muscle inhibition. Sacroiliac joint manipulation helped to overcome muscle inhibition of knee extensors. What muscle function benefited, so spinal manipulation known to have effective results in muscle inhibition of lower limb musculatures17.

Studies precise to knee joint are focused on mobilization, which includes anterior/posterior joint mobilization as well as patellar glides to improve outcomes in patients with knee pain. Different sort of treatment strategies is suggested, which aim to reduce pain and prevent functional deterioration in future 17,18. Traction is applied at a right angle to the treatment plane, which is for the tibiofemoral joint, is located in the concave proximal end of the tibia.

Kalten born defined a grading system for traction. There are three types of tractions. According to the above-mentioned grading, grade lll of the traction is linear motion, applied with sufficient force to take up the slake in the joint capsule. Ensure that the soft tissues surrounding the knee joint become taut.

Studies done in the past had shown that TENS increases pain and heat threshold in healthy individuals. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator is an inexpensive, non-invasive intervention used in various painful conditions19.

TENS has a better effect in pain that is being evoked by movements, also shows beneficial results by providing functional improvement20. Application of tens is through four self-adhesive electrodes that are place in a bucket method surrounding the knee joint with OA for 20 minutes at a comfortable intensity21. The specific site for electrode placement is determined by the allocation examiner using point of least impedance22.

The intention of this research was to determine before session condition and changes after the treatment session is provided by TENS and by manual therapy. Manual therapy is joint traction and mobilization on measures of pain.

Traction Grading

Kalten born Traction Grading Scale

Grade I – Neutralizes joint pressure without separation of joint surfaces

Grade II – Separates articulating surfaces, taking up slack or eliminating play within joint capsule

Grade III – Stretching of soft tissue surrounding joint

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)

It is a non-invasive modality with very few adverse effects that is used in physiotherapy for control of pain. Seven studies using TENS in people with knee osteoarthritis (OA) were identified for this review; device setting, application and outcomes measured varied between studies23.

METHODOLOGY

Study Design

Randomized Control Trial (Experimental study)

Setting

Research was conducted at Outpatient Department of tertiary care hospital.

Duration of Study

6 months.

Sample Size

Sample size was calculated as 309.7 taking prevalence of knee OA 22-28%24, at 95% confidence level and margin of error is 0.05. To avoid data wastage 310 Individual will be included in the study.

Sampling Techniques

Simple Random Sampling

Sample Selection

Inclusion Criteria

Individuals coming for physiotherapy treatment diagnosed with Knee Osteoarthritis between the age group of 40 to 75.

Exclusion Criteria

  1. Osteoporosis
  2. Knee joint infection
  3. Acute rheumatoid arthritis

Pain referred from hip, sacroiliac, and lumbar spine.

  1. A ligament injury
  2. Cognitive deficits
  3. Patello femoral arthritis.

Data Collection Tool

Date was collected using Oxford Knee Pain Scale Questionnaire.

Data Analysis

Statistical package for social science (SPSS-20) was used to analyze data, means and standard deviation of all quantitative parameters, for effect was calculated other qualitative parameters.

RESULTS

Table 1.01 participants

A sample of 310 participants including 62 males and 248 females, participated in this research, which measured outcomes over sessions. Therefore, results for OKPS data included all participants. No participant discontinued treatment due to increased knee pain. All participants completed all session. Table 1.02 mean and std. deviation of age the mean age (± 9.61) for all participants was 54.40 years.

The mean difference was 12.42. Electro therapy (TENS) also significant but less than manual traction.

DISCUSSION

After the completion of following therapeutic session of end-range manual traction mobilization applied to the tibio femoral joint, there was significant improvement in knee flexion AROM. The research participants experienced a mean increase of 15.01 in active knee flexion which was measured before starting the treatment and measurements taken after the completion of therapy. This research utilized a therapeutic intervention applied manually, giving traction to articular surfaces and also stretching particular soft tissues in the region of both knee joints. The efficacy of the applied manual technique may relate to its application at the available range of motion. As well, manual traction applied over the TF joint may temporarily diminish the compression on the meniscus and facilitate the movement of fluid within the joint. The effects may help to subside the pain and swelling by decreasing the potential motion-limiting effects25.

According to Maher et al significant differences were observed in passive range of motion after the application of 2 minutes and 4 minutes of joint traction with no significance noted after 4 minutes. While pain felt by the individuals did not change significantly over time, but level of pain did change during each session of therapy26. It was evident in our data that manual traction showed better results in patients with knee osteoarthritis pain.

In another article by Polard H et al stated that a short-term manual therapy knee protocol found effective in pain reduction in research participants suffering from osteoarthritic knee pain. This resulted in great improvement in knee functions immediately after the end of second week of treatment session27. In our study we had similar results and the manual traction has been extremely effective as a treatment option.

The research participants show a statically significant change in active flexion of knee during every therapeutic session, due to which application of manual traction to the joint to improve knee flexion impairment is highly supported. The results of the study done shows statically significant changes after the treatment. We are also aware of the studies done, which also have reported these findings. Although the manual traction application to the tibiofemoral component did not produce a statically significant decline in knee pain when applied at a painful end range position, but level of pain did statically decrease during each treatment session. All members agreed and reported that they observe that the application of this manual technique lead to decrease their knee pain.

The exact mechanism for the perceived pain decline by the application of manual traction or mechanical traction technique is not well understood, Although theoretically it is corelated with increase in synovial fluid circulation, stimulation of articular receptor, tissue extensibility enhancement also transient decrease of compressive loads on the articular surfaces28.

CONCLUSION

The result of this research supports the application of manual TF joint traction as a mean of stretching shortened articular and periarticular tissues with decreased in levels of pain either during the treatment or at the end of session. There is significant improvement in knee flexion AROM. Pain level decreases during every treatment session.

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