Efficacy of a target-matching foot-stepping exercise on proprioception and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis

Fisheye STUDY DESIGN: A randomized clinical trial design. Fisheye OBJECTIVE: 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). Fisheye BACKGROUND: Researchers have suggested that exercises to address knee OA should include proprioceptive training. However, most patients cannot tolerate conventional proprioceptive training performed in a standing position. Fisheye METHODS AND MEASURES: Forty-nine subjects (mean age ± SD, 63.3 ± 8.1 years) 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. Fisheye RESULTS: The TMFSE significantly improved reposition error from a mean ± SD of 3.0° ± 1.6° to 1.5° ± 0.6°, walking velocity on ground level from 44.1 ± 2.9 to 38.6 ± 2.5 seconds for 60 m, time to complete a stairs task from 34.2 ± 2.1 to 26.5 ± 2.3 seconds, time to complete a figure-of-eight from 51.3 ± 6.7 to 29.1 ± 3.6 seconds, and score on a functional incapacity scale from 12.0 ± 3.1 to 4.9 ± 1.7, in subjects with knee OA after a 6-week intervention (P<.0125). In contrast, the control group showed no change in any of the measured tests. Fisheye CONCLUSION: TMFSE in sitting appears to be an option for exercise in patients with mild to moderate knee OA. This may be an especially attractive option for patients who may have pain with weight-bearing exercises. A longitudinal study with a larger sample size is needed to confirm the potential use of TMFSE for patients with knee OA. Fisheye LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapy, level 1b-.