Physiotherapeutic Intervention Techniques for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a primary cause of disability worldwide, characterized by pain, stiffness, and muscle weakness.
• These symptoms significantly limit mobility, leading to reduced quality of life for affected individuals.
• Effective KOA rehabilitation aims to enhance knee range of motion, quadriceps strength, and functional capacity while alleviating pain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and identify effective physiotherapy interventions for knee osteoarthritis (KOA).
• To evaluate current evidence on various physical therapy modalities for KOA management.
• To determine optimal rehabilitation strategies combining conventional and novel approaches.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of 180 articles, narrowed down to 15 relevant studies.
• Searches conducted across Google Scholar, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE databases.
• Keywords included KOA, physiotherapy, interventions, exercises, strengthening, stretching, concentric, and eccentric training.

Main Results:

• Several physiotherapy methods show effectiveness when used alongside standard KOA treatment.
• Mulligan, Pilates, Kinesiotaping, and Aquatic Therapy are identified as beneficial interventions.
• A broad range of outcome measures were considered in the reviewed studies.

Conclusions:

• Combining current physiotherapy techniques with conventional therapy is preferable for managing knee osteoarthritis.
• Integrating Mulligan, Pilates, Kinesiotaping, and Aquatic Therapy can enhance rehabilitation outcomes.
• A multimodal approach to KOA physiotherapy offers superior results compared to conventional therapy alone.