Affiliations: [a] Department of Education and Health Protection, Holycross College of Kielce, Kielce, Poland | [b] Physiotherapy Cabinet of Zywiec, Zywiec, Poland | [c] Department of Ergonomics and Physiology of Physical Effort, Jagiellonian University of Cracow, Cracow, Poland
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Paweł Lizis, Department of Education and Health Protection, Holycross College of Kielce, 51 Mielczarskiego str., 25-709 Kielce, Poland. Tel.: +48 413623018; Fax: +48 413327451; E-mail: pawel_lizis@poczta.onet.pl.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is a degenerative, painful pathology, needing conservative treatment for symptoms’ relief. OBJECTIVE: Comparing the effects of Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) and Kinesiotherapy (KIN) on perceived health and range of motion (ROM) of the affected knee. METHOD: A pilot randomized controlled trial with concealed allocation, assessor blinding, intention-to-treat analysis. Forty participants, aged 40–75 with OA of the knee were randomized to an ESWT and a KIN groups. The ESWT group completed 5 interventions for 5 weeks, the KIN group completed the same number of interventions. All evaluations were performed at baseline and after the treatment for: perceived health (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities questionnaire – WOMAC), range of motion (ROM). RESULTS: After the intervention the statistical significant between groups differences favoring the ESWT were found in the WOMAC with regard to pain (p< 0.000), stiffness (p= 0.018), physical function (p< 0.000), total score (p< 0.000), extension and flexion of the affected knee (p= 0.015, p< 0.000) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: ESWT improves WOMAC and ROM better then KIN on the affected knee in patients with OA of the knee.
Keywords: Extracorporeal shockwave therapy, kinesiotherapy, osteoarthritis of the knee
