Efficacy of rectus femoris stretching on pain, range of motion and spatiotemporal gait parameters in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of rectus femoris stretching on pain intensity, knee range of motion (ROM), spatiotemporal gait parameters and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). METHODS: This parallel group, single-blinded randomised controlled trial was conducted in two outpatient physical therapy clinics. Study participants (n=60, with age>45 years) with mild-to-moderate bilateral KOA were randomised into the study group (SG) and control group (CG). SG received rectus femoris stretching exercises together with stretching exercises of the calf, hamstring and iliotibial band, strength exercises for the quadriceps, gluteus medius, gluteus maximus and calf muscles, whereas, the CG received all exercises mentioned for SG except rectus femoris stretching. Pain intensity, ROM, spatiotemporal gait parameters and function were measured before and after 4 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: The SG showed a significant improvement in the visual analogue scale, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities measure and ROM (p<0.001). The SG also had a significantly greater step length and speed than CG (p<0.001). Extension ROM did not significant difference between the groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Simple rectus femoris stretching exercises are easy to perform even at home and are beneficial for pain, flexion ROM, function and spatiotemporal gait parameters, such as step length and speed, in KOA patients if the compliance with the exercise regimen is good. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Pan African Clinical Trials Registry PACTR202003828737019.