Published Paper Details:

Background: Kinetic chain exercises have been used in the symptomatic relief of symptoms in patients with knee osteoarthritis but the impact of these exercises on the primary structure getting involved in osteoarthritis i.e. articular cartilage, still needs to be investigated. Material & Method: 60 subjects in the age range of 40-70 years and satisfying the inclusion and exclusion criteria were made part of study and were divided into two groups of 30 subjects each. Group A received open kinetic chain and group B received combination of open and closed kinetic chain exercises. Baseline readings were noted down of pain, ROM of flexion and cartilage health parameters of clarity, interface and thickness using sonography. Exercise protocol was given for 3 times per week for 12 weeks. Results: The cartilage clarity and interface was presented as frequency distribution of subjects in different grades. The findings of paired t-test showed that there was statistically significant improvement in pain, quality of life and cartilage thickness at sulcus aspect of left knee in group A and medial and lateral aspect left and right knee respectively of group B. The findings of unpaired t-test suggested significant difference in cartilage thickness at lateral aspect of right knee and sulcus aspect of left knee and statistically non-significant difference of all other parameters between the two groups. Conclusion: The findings were indicative that kinetic chain exercises are an effective in managing clinical symptoms associated with knee osteoarthritis but they have inconsistent effect on the articular cartilage health.