NCT01320904

Exercise and Muscle Stimulation in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) on Knee Osteoarthritis(OA): an Equivalence Randomized Clinical Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 19 (actual)
• Sponsor: Universidade Luterana do Brasil · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 40 Years – 70 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) combined with closed kinetic chain (CKC) exercises in patients with knee OA.

Detailed description

Abstract: Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative and debilitating change that affects the synovial joints. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) combined with closed kinetic chain (CKC) exercises in patients with knee OA. Methods: Nineteen patients with knee OA were enrolled and randomized into two groups: group I was treated with CKC + NMES, and group II was treated with CKC + NMES placebo. Both groups underwent 20 sessions of mini-squat exercises at 30 degrees of knee flexion that were associated with and interspersed with NMES for 5 minutes at a frequency of 40 hertz (Hz), 10 minutes at 70 Hz and an addition 10 minutes at 150 Hz, for a total of 25 minutes. The data were analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) version 17.0. Data were expressed as a frequency, mean and standard deviation and were statistically analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measurements followed by Bonferroni's post-hoc test. The investigators also used an unpaired Student's t-test and Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon tests with a level of significance of P \< 0.05.

Conditions

• Osteoarthritis, Knee
• Self Stimulation
• Exercise Addiction

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	NMES	We used a electrical stimulation device with a 2500-Hz carrier frequency. We used four channels in the synchronous mode, with surface electrodes that were simultaneously fixed at the motor points of the quadriceps and hamstrings. Initially, a warm-up protocol that was five minutes long was used at a stimulation frequency of 40 Hz to activate the slow fibers. These fibers activated with a four-second-contraction time (on), a four-second-stimulus rise time, a four-second-stimulation decay time and a 12-second relaxation time (off). We then increased the frequency to 70 Hz to activate the fast fibers for an additional 10 minutes using the parameters described above, and finally, the frequency was increase to 150 Hz for 10 minutes to achieve maximal muscle potentiation.
PROCEDURE	Closed Kinetic Chain	During the stimulation period, i.e., the on time, the patient remained in a mini-squat position at thirty degrees and returned to zero degrees during the decay period. During the electrical stimulation off period, the patient spontaneously performed another mini-squat at 30 degrees without electrical stimulation. The patients in the CKC + NMES placebo group simulated the same work applied to the NMES group. Notably, this group was also connected to the electrodes, but the equipment was set at a stimulus intensity of zero.

Timeline

• Start date: 2010-08-01
• Primary completion: 2010-10-01
• Completion: 2010-10-01
• First posted: 2011-03-23
• Last updated: 2011-03-23