Effectiveness of Muscle Energy Technique and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation in Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract

This  study was undertaken  to  determine  the effectiveness of techniques such  as  muscle  energy technique  and proprioceptive  neuromuscular  facilitation  in  reduction  of  pain  levels,  improvement  in  flexibility  of  hamstring  muscle  and functional mobility, in patients with osteoarthritis of knee. An experimental study was carried out using a pre test and post test study  design.  The  study  was  carried  out  in  Krishna  Hospital,  Karad  with  a  sample  size  of  36  individuals  suffering  from osteoarthritis of knee using a random sampling method. Individuals with Osteoarthritis of knee within the age group 40-60 years have been included. The collected data was analysed using paired and unpaired ‘t’ tests.  When the data was analysed, the results showed that   the patients in Group A and B receiving PNF stretching and MET respectively, the pain levels measured using NPRS shows more improvement in group A(7.66 ±1.02 ) as compared to group B (3.44 ±0.92).  Hamstring flexibility in group A (10.63 ±4.89) was also found to be higher than in group B (4.37±2.01) when Active knee extension test was performed as a measure for hamstring flexibility, when functional mobility was measured using Western Ontario and McMaster universities arthritis index, improvement seen in group A (27.21 ±12.31) was significantly higher than in group B (14.11±7.88). The primary finding was that the patients of group A receiving PNF stretching along with the baseline protocol showed better improvement in pain levels, hamstring flexibility and level of functional mobility as compared to the patients in group B receiving MET along. with baseline protocol