Changes in co-contraction during stair descent after manual therapy protocol in knee osteoarthritis: A pilot, single-blind, randomized study.
BACKGROUND
Manual therapy has shown clinical results in patients with knee osteoarthritis. However, the biomechanical aspects during functional tasks have not been explored in depth.


METHODS
Through surface electromyography, the medial and lateral co-contractions of the knee were measured while descending stairs, prior and posterior to applying a manual therapy protocol in the knee, with emphasis on techniques of joint mobilization and soft-tissue management.


RESULTS
Sixteen females with slight or moderate knee osteoarthritis were recruited (eight experimental, eight control). It was observed that the lateral co-contraction index of the experimental group, posterior to intervention, increased by 11.7% (p = 0.014).


CONCLUSIONS
The application of a manual therapy protocol with emphasis on techniques of joint mobilization and soft-tissue management modified lateral co-contraction, which would have a protective effect on the joint.
Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile; Laboratory of Biomechanics, San José Hospital, Santiago, Chile.
Carlos
C
Cruz-Montecinos
Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Rodrigo
R
Flores-Cartes
Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Agustín
A
Montt-Rodriguez
Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Esteban
E
Pozo
Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Alvaro
A
Besoaín-Saldaña
Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile; Laboratory of Biomechanics, San José Hospital, Santiago, Chile. Electronic address: ghorment@med.uchile.cl.
Giselle
G
Horment-Lara
D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D026201:Musculoskeletal Manipulations / Q000379:methods*; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016037:Single-Blind Method
Co-contraction; Electromyography; Knee osteoarthritis; Manual therapy