Effects of manual therapy and electrotherapy on knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

Introduction: Manual therapy and TENS physiotherapy resources are aimed analgesia in joint dysfunction. Objective: To compare the effectiveness of manual therapy and TENS in hypoalgesia and functionality in osteoarthritis of the knee. Methods: This was a randomized clinical trial randomized, double-blind study with 24 volunteers divided into experimental group (Manual Therapy) and control (TENS), underwent 12 interventions for four weeks. The data were analyzed using the two-tailed Student’s t-test (p <0.05), for outcomes regarding joint mobility, pain and functionality. Results: There were no differences between the scores before and after treatment for both pain (4.41 ± 1.25 / 3.11 ± 1.66 x GC / GE), and for the WOMAC, in the pain (-18.75 ± 20.13 / GC x -18.7 ± 16.8 / GE), stiffness (-27.05 ± 15.85 / -19.13 ± 34.76 x GC / GE) or function (-22 ± 18.12 / -15.33 ± 15.13 x GC / GE). Null hypothesis was accepted with similar averages. Conclusion: Interventions were equally effective in the treatment of pain and function.