Effects of closed and open kinetic chain exercises on pain, muscle strength, function, and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE: Therapeutic exercises are well documented for the treatment of osteoarthritis; there is less evidence on what the effect of closed kinetic chain exercises is for knee osteoarthritis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of open kinetic chain exercises and closed kinetic chain exercises on pain, muscle strength, functional status, and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: The study included a total of 60 patients with primary unilateral knee osteoarthritis grade I and II. The patients were categorized into three groups as open kinetic chain exercises (n=20), closed kinetic chain exercises (n=20), and control group (n=20). The outcome measures, including pain, isokinetic muscle strength, functional status, and quality of life, were collected at baseline and at the end of 6 and 12 weeks. RESULTS: Closed kinetic chain exercises and open kinetic chain exercises had significant improvement in pain, muscle strength, WOMAC, and SF-36 scores after the treatment and at their 6th and 12th week follow-ups compared to their baseline values and compared to the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The changes in all outcome measures were similar between closed kinetic chain exercises and open kinetic chain exercises (p>0.05). Closed kinetic chain exercises and open kinetic chain exercises were similar for knee osteoarthritis grade I and II. Closed kinetic chain exercises could be safely added to the exercise programs of patients with low-grade knee osteoarthritis.