An Evaluation of the Graded Weight-bearing Exercise in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis.

Background: Knee osteoarthritis is the most common disorder impacting the synovial joint. The prevalence of osteoarthritis rises with age, and its consequences on health and socioeconomic are significant, which emphasize the need for clinical and cost-effective treatments for patients with knee OA. Knee OA is a widespread joint arthritis disease combined with many clinical features such as pain, decreased joint proprioception and might lead to loss of function and disability.Aim: To evaluate the effect of a 6-weeks supervised graded weight-bearing exercise program on pain, function, proprioception, muscle strength in patients with knee osteoarthritis.Material and Method: Thirty-six patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis with age ranging 40-60 years will be recruited from the physical therapy department and randomized into three groups. Group I: will receive graded weight-bearing exercise using the anti-gravity treadmill combined with open kinetic chain exercises. Group II will receive closed kinetic chain exercises with open kinetic chain exercises while group III will receive open kinetic chain exercises only i.e: stretching and strengthening exercises. The outcome measures will be pain, function, proprioception, and muscle strength.Statistical analysis: To detect changes in the dependent variables within and between groups, one-way repeated measures Multivariate analysis will be applied. If there is a significant change within groups or between tests, the post hoc Bonferroni test will be used to detect the significance between each group and/or each level of measurement. The level of significance is p<0.05 and confidence interval CI 95%.Study Design: Single-blinded, randomised control trial.

Inclusion Criteria:Patients had chronic pain in either unilateral or bilateral knees ≥ 6 months.The x-ray showed grades II and III according to on Kallgren and Lawrence (K/L) grading system.Patients are willing to stop medications.Patients accepted to assign informed consent to participate in the current study and will attend the lab twice a week for six successive weeks.Exclusion Criteria:They have any known significant medical conditions such as hypertension, asthma, cardiac disease, or systemic disease that adversely affect them during testing.Previous knee surgery/injection for the last six months.Previous knee fracture or malignancy.Unable to walk unaided.Unable to commit study requirements.