Hospital-based versus home-based proprioceptive and strengthening exercise programs in knee osteoarthritis.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to establish the effects of hospital- and home-based proprioceptive and strengthening exercise programs on proprioception, pain, and functional status in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).


METHODS
Sixty patients with bilateral knee OA were randomly allocated into either a home-based or hospital-based exercise program. Hospital-based exercise group (n=30, mean age 50.23±9.07 years) received functional training program with proprioceptive ability, ice, and home exercises. Home-based exercise group (n=30, mean age 54.4±7.9 years) had a program of ice and home exercises. Treatment programs was conducted 5 days per week for 6 weeks (30 sessions). Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Monitorized Functional Squat System-Proprioceptive Test (MFSS), timed performance test (TUG), and visual analogue scale (VAS) for the intensity of pain were used to quantify the variables.


RESULTS
Both groups demonstrated significant improvement when pre- and post-treatment results were compared for pain intensity, WOMAC, and TUG test scores (p<0.05). No statistically significant improvement was found in proprioception of the home-based group (p>0.05). Hospital-based group demonstrated significantly greater improvement in MFSS, TUG test, and VAS in activity when compared with the home-based group (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Both hospital- and home-based exercise programs decreased joint symptoms and improved function in patients with knee OA.
Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Hacettepe University Faculty of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey. volgatunay@hacettepe.edu.tr
Volga Bayrakcı
VB
Tunay
Gül
G
Baltacı
Ahmet Ozgür
AO
Atay
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D017679:Cryotherapy; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010814:Physical Therapy Department, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011434:Proprioception; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012720:Severity of Illness Index