Objective: To investigate the effect of therapeutic exercise on patients with osteoarthritis of
knee in view of functional capacity.
Method: The subjects were 80 patients with osteoarthritis of knee. Patients were randomly
allocated to exercise or no exercise (control) group. Osteoarthritis was diagnosed on the base
of clinical features, X ray findings. Therapeutic exercise was consisted of quad-setting exercise,
isokinetic exercise, squatting exercise. Effects of therapeutic exercise were evaluated by muscle
function, functioal performance and degree of pain.
Results: In exercise group, muscle function such as torque and endurance of extensor and
flexor of knee were increased significantly compaired with control group (p<0.05). Increment
was more apparent in extensor. In both group, pain was decreased but more apparent in exercise
group (p<0.05). Functional performance was assessed in terms of dependency, difficulty and
amount of pain. Exercise group showed improvement of functional performance in walking inside,
climbing stairs (p<0.05) but control group did not show improvement. Seventy percent of patients
with osteoarthritis of knee showed increment of body weight above 10 kg compaired with their
twenties.
Conclusion: When we manage the osteoarthritis of knee, therapeutic exercise should be
included in the treatment regimen as well as physical and medical therapy.