title: Efficacy of action potential simulation and interferential therapy in the rehabilitation of patients with knee osteoarthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is the main cause of pain, physical impairment and chronic disability in older people. Electrotherapeutic modalities such as interferential therapy (IFT) and action potential simulation (APS) are used for the treatment of knee OA. In this study, we aim to evaluate the therapeutic effects of APS and IFT on knee OA.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this randomized clinical trial, 67 patients (94% female and 6% male with mean age of 52.80 ± 8.16 years) with mild and moderate knee OA were randomly assigned to be treated with APS (n = 34) or IFT (n = 33) for 10 sessions in 4 weeks. Baseline and post-treatment Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) subscales, visual analogue scale (VAS) and timed up and go (TUG) test were measured in all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VAS and WOMAC subscales were significantly improved after treatment in APS and IFT groups (p < 0.001 for all). TUG was also significantly improved after treatment in APS group (p < 0.001), but TUG changes in IFT was not significant (p = 0.09). There was no significant difference in VAS, TUG and WOMAC subscales values before and after treatment as well as the mean improvement in VAS, TUG and WOMAC subscales during study between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short-term treatment with both APS and IFT could significantly reduce pain and improve physical function in patients with knee OA.
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Bina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eftekharsadat
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Firozgar Hospital, Valiasr square, Tehran 1593748711, Iran.
authors.forename: Arash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Babaei-Ghazani
authors.affiliation: Medical Education Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Afshin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Habibzadeh
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kolahi
keywords: action potential simulation; function; interferential therapy; knee osteoarthritis; pain