Quadriceps Femoris Strength Training: effect of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Vs Isometric Exercise in Osteoarthritis of Knee Hasan Shahnaz Associate Professor, Department of Physiotherapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, K.S.A Online published on 19 June, 2015. Abstract Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of the Neuromuscular Electrical stimulation as an add-on therapy with maximum voluntary isometric contraction exercise on the quantitative changes of the quadriceps strength, pain and functional outcomes in patients with osteoarthritis of knee. Method Fifty patients with Osteoarthritis of Knee (22 women and 28 men) were randomly divided into experimental and control group (25 subjects in each group). Experimental Group received the NMES guided isometric exercise for 5 days a week for 3 week, whereas the control group received an isometric exercise along with sham NMES, without any instruction regarding muscle recruitment. Maximum isometric quadriceps strength was assessed with the electronic strain gauge. Pain and the functional status of the patients were measured through visual analogue scale (VAS) and the reduced WOMAC scale. Results Maximum isometric quadriceps strength improved significantly at the end of 3 week, compared with the pretreatment values in both the groups. On between group comparisons, the maximum isometric quadriceps strength in NMES group, at the end of 3 week and after 2 week follow-up i.e. on 5th week were significantly higher than those of control group (p<0.05). Significant improvements were shown for both the VAS and reduced WOMAC in both groups (p<0.05). Conclusion The addition of Neuromuscular Electrical stimulation in maximum voluntary isometric contraction exercise has been shown to produce greater gains in isometric quadriceps strength, thereby reduce pain and improved function. Top Keywords Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation, Isometric Exercise, Osteoarthritis Of Knee. Top |