title: The effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on arthritis knee pain in older adults with osteoarthritis of the knee.
abstract: The objective of this study was to examine the short- and long-term effects of a home-based, 12-week neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) of the quadriceps femoris to decrease arthritis knee pain in older adults with osteoarthritis of the knee. The study sample (N = 38) was randomly assigned to the NMES treatment plus education group or the arthritis education-only group. Pain was measured in both groups with the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) at baseline, during the intervention at weeks 4, 8, 12, and at follow-up and with the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale 2-Pain Subscale (AIMS2-PS) at baseline and week 12. The NMES Pain Diary (PD) was completed 15 minutes before and after each stimulation session. There was a significant 22% decline in pain 15 minutes after as compared with immediately before each NMES treatment (p <.001), as measured by the PD. No significant group differences were found between the 2 groups over the course of the intervention and follow-up. These findings indicate that a home-based NMES intervention reduced arthritis knee pain 15 minutes after a NMES treatment.
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, The Erickson Foundation, 701 Maiden Choice Lane, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA. jgaines@ericksonmail.com
authors.forename: Jean M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gaines
authors.forename: E Jeffrey
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Metter
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Talbot
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003152:Community Health Nursing; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing / Q000592:standards*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000150:complications*; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome