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D. Rupareliya1, Y. Shukla2, A. Bhise2
1Gujarat University/Government Physiotherapy College/Civil Hospital, Physiotherapy, Ahmedabad, India, 2Government Physiotherapy College/Civil Hospital, Physiotherapy, Ahmedabad, India
Background: Osteoarthritis is the second most common rheumatological problem with prevalence of 22% to 39% in India. Knee joint is the most commonly affected joint of the body. The tight muscles especially biarticular muscles like rectus femoris, iliotibial band further contribute to early degeneration of the joint. Tight Iliotibial pulls the patella laterally during knee flexion movement & also externally rotates the tibia, causing the corresponding changes in the tibiofemoral joint contact pattern. Balance of the medial and the lateral static and dynamic stabilizers is necessary for proper alignment of joint.
Purpose: Purpose of the study is to find the effect of Iliotibial band stretching on pain and function in individuals with unilateral osteoarthritis of knee joint.
Methods: 31 individuals having unilateral knee osteoarthritis and meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study; written informed consent was taken and they were divided into two groups. Both the groups underwent 4 weeks of conventional physiotherapy treatment and intervention group underwent Iliotibial band stretching in addition. Both the groups were assessed before and after the treatment to determine the extent of reduction in level of pain and improvement of function by using Numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) and WOMAC respectively.
Results: At the end of 4 weeks, individuals in the both control group and intervention group showed reduction in pain and improvement in function. But interventional group showed statistically significant difference in pain reduction and functional improvement when compared to control group. (p<0.05).
Conclusion(s): Iliotibial band stretching along with conventional physiotherapy helps in reducing pain and improving function in individuals with unilateral knee osteoarthritis.
Implications: Considering biomechanical aspects in treatment of Osteoarthritis of knee might result in long term benefit and avoiding deformities to an extent. Also, addition of Iliotibial band stretching in conventional treatment of knee osteoarthritis results in greater reduction of pain and improvement of function.
Funding, acknowledgements: This study is not funded by any source. No participant was financially burdened for this study.
Keywords: Osteoarthritis, Iliotibial band, Ober’s test
Topic: Musculoskeletal: lower limb
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: B.J.Medical college & Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad
Committee: The Institutional Ethics Committee
Ethics number: GSIIESC/06/15
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
