The effectiveness of peroneal nerve stimulation combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation in the management of knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled single-blind study

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) combined with peroneal nerve stimulation (PNS) on muscle strength around the knee, proprioception, pain, functional status, and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The prospective, randomized, single-blinded, controlled trial included 63 patients with clinical and radiological diagnoses of knee OA between December 2019 and March 2020. The patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 (NMES+PNS, n=31) and Group 2 (NMES, n=32). The patients were followed up at two and six weeks. Main outcome measures were the Visual Analog Scale, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index, Nottingham Health Profile, and 100-m walking test, quadriceps muscle strength, hamstring muscle strength (HMS), and joint position sense were evaluated using a computer-controlled isokinetic dynamometer at 60°/sec, 90°/sec, and 120°/sec angular velocities. The proprioception was evaluated at 30° and 60° flexion angles using the same device. RESULTS: Two patients from Group 1 and two patients from Group 2 were excluded from the study after they failed to show up for the six-week control. As a result, the study was completed with 59 patients (30 females, 29 males; 55.9±6.1 years; range, 40 to 65 years). There was a significant difference between the two groups in the 100-m walking test parameter at the six-week control in favor of Group 1 (p<0.05). There was a significant difference in favor of Group 1 in the parameters of proprioception (30° and 60°) and HMS (60° and 90°) in both the two-week evaluation and six-week controls (p<0.05). The HMS 120° parameter showed a significant difference in favor of Group 1 at the six-week control (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In patients with knee OA, we believe that PNS combined with NMES may be more effective than NMES treatment alone in terms of proprioception, HMS, and functional status.