Jan MH, Tang PF, Lin JJ, Tseng SC, Lin YF, Lin DH
The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of high, repetitive, target-matching foot-stepping exercise (TMFSE) performed in a sitting position on proprioception, functional score, and walking velocity for patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Forty-nine subjects with knee OA were randomly assigned to the exercise or no intervention groups. The exercise group practiced TMFSE in sitting, 3 sessions weekly for 6 weeks. All subjects underwent assessments of knee reposition error, functional incapacity score, and walking velocity prior to and after intervention. The TMFSE significantly improved reposition error, walking velocity on ground level, time to complete a stairs task, time to complete a figure-of-eight, and score on a functional incapacity scale, in subjects with knee OA after 6-week intervention. In contrast, the control group showed no change in any of the measured tests.
Target-matching foot-stepping exercise in sitting is an option for exercise in patients with mild to moderate knee OA, especially those who may have pain with weight-bearing exercises.
Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 2008, 38(1), 19-25