EFFICACY OF CLOSE KINEMATIC CHAIN EXERCISES IN REDUCING PAIN AND IMPROVING FUNCTIONALITY IN PATIENT’S WITH KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS AMONG OLDER ADULTS: RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL

Abstract

Background:

Osteoarthritis (OA) a degenerative, chronic illness that progressively affects the knee and hip joints. The illness progressively lowers a person's quality of life by making it harder for them to move around, be independent, and interact with others.

Methodology:

A randomized controlled trial was conducted on 42 participants aged between 40 and 70 years at Santosh college of Occupational therapy. The experimental group received traditional occupational therapy treatment in addition to closed kinetic chain exercises. In addition to traditional occupational therapy treatment, participants in the control group also received a home-based program. For eight weeks, there were three sessions per week, each lasting forty-five minutes.

Results:

there was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups' pain levels as determined by the Visual Analog Scale (t = 3.053, p = 0.004), suggesting that the experimental group experienced greater pain reduction. However, the groups' post-intervention WOMAC assessments did not differ statistically significantly (t = −0.741, p = 0.463), suggesting that both groups had comparable functional improvements.

Conclusion:

According to the study's findings, closed kinematic chain (CKC) workouts provide better analgesic benefits than traditional exercise therapies for those with knee osteoarthritis.