title: Effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation combined with exercises versus an exercise program on the pain and the function in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of 8 weeks of NMES + Ex (neuromuscular electrical stimulation combined with exercises) on pain and functional improvement in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) compared to exercise (Ex) alone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  A specialty outpatient clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients (N = 100; women = 86, men = 14; age range, 50-75 years) with knee OA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were randomly assigned to NMES + Ex or Ex group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Numerical Rating Scale 0 to 10 (NRS) and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test were the primary outcomes. The secondary outcomes used were the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following the interventions, a statistically significant improvement in both groups was observed in all outcomes assessed. For the comparison between the groups, no statistically significant difference was found between the NMES + Ex and the Ex groups in NRS (P = 0.52), TUG test (P = 0.12), and aspects of WOMAC: pain (P = 0.26), function (P = 0.23), and stiffness (P = 0.63).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  THE addition of NMES to exercise did not improve the outcomes assessed in knee OA patients. This study was registered at the Australian Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN012607000357459).
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, Federal University of São Paulo, 04023-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mizusaki Imoto
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peccin
authors.forename: Kelson Nonato
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Gomes da Silva
authors.forename: Lucas Emmanuel Pedro
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: de Paiva Teixeira
authors.forename: Marcelo Ismael
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Abrahão
authors.forename: Virgínia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fernandes Moça Trevisani
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D010146:Pain / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D059408:Pain Management