Published Paper Details:

Background: Kinetic chain exercises have been used in the management of the patients with knee osteoarthritis but whether these exercises has any impact on the articular cartilage of knee is yet 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 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 sulcus aspect of both knees of group B. The findings of unpaired t-test suggested significant difference in pain and statistically non-significant difference of all other parameters between the two groups. Conclusion: The findings were suggestive that both open and closed kinetic chain exercises brought improvement in clinical symptoms but none of the exercise regime was effective in improving the health of cartilage health.