Neuromuscular exercise with neuromuscular electrical stimulation in knee osteoarthritis: a randomised controlled pilot trial

Introduction
The present study describes the findings of Randomized Controlled Trial that investigates the effects of Neuromuscular Exercise with euromuscular Electrical Stimulation on pain, physical function, balance, range of motion and gait by various measures in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Material and methods
A 48 subjects with knee osteoarthritis were randomly allocated into four groups with primary outcomes feasibility, assessment procedure, adherence and acceptability to the intervention. The secondary outcomes were visual analog scale (VAS), knee injury osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS),timed up & go (TUG), range of motion (ROM), community balance & mobility scale (CBM&S) and dynamic gait index (DGI). Feasibility and acceptability of the study were evaluated by number of subjects completed the pre and post-treatment data.

Results
61 subjects were screened for the study. 48 subjects agreed to take part in study. There was significant improvement in VAS after 6 weeks of treatment in group D (p = 0.0001) as compared to group A. KOOS sub variables and TUG test were significant at p = 0.0001, ROM (R) was significant at p = 0.01 , ROM (L) significant at p = 0.11 and CBM&S, DGI were significant at p = 0.0001 after 6 weeks of treatment in between group comparison.

Conclusions
This pilot trial suggests that it is feasible and acceptable to do fully powered “RCT” to investigate the effect of NEMEX with NMES in knee OA. The study concluded that NEMEX with NMES may significantly reduce the pain and fall risks, improves KROM, balance, and dynamic mobility in patients with KOA.