Comparison between the effects of Maitland’s mobilization versus its combination with vastus medialis oblique neuromuscular stimulation on two scales (NPRS & WOMAC) in knee osteoarthritis patients

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis that increases with age affecting the population from the middle age to the elderly. The present study was undertaken to find whether neuromuscular stimulation of vastus medialis oblique (VMO) in combination with Maitland’s mobilization and exercises was more effective as compared to Maitland’s mobilization with exercises alone in patients with knee OA. METHODS: Sixty patients with knee OA were purposively selected and randomly distributed to two groups that received an intervention for eight weeks. Group A patients received Maitland’s mobilization in combination with exercises and group B patients received the same intervention as group A in combination with neuromuscular stimulation of VMO muscle. After eight weeks, outcome measures, i.e. Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) index, were reassessed. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant (P<0.05) within-group improvement in the knee pain levels and stiffness as reflected by NPRS and WOMAC index. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: Patients of both the groups (A and B) were found to be improving significantly in pain and disability, group A patients receiving Maitland’s mobilization in combination with exercises were found to get more relief in pain and disability.