EFFECTS OF DEEP STRIPPING VERSUS KNEADING ON PAIN, RANGE OF MOTION AND FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY AMONG INDIVIDUALS WITH KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL
Abstract
Background:
Knee osteoarthritis is linked to progressive loss and deterioration of articular cartilage which affects individuals 45 years of age and older. The study aimed to compare the effects of soft tissue mobilization’s techniques deep stripping versus kneading for osteoarthritis of knee joint.
Methodology:
44 individuals of 40 to 65 years of age with chronic knee osteoarthritis that meets Kellgren and Lawrence's criteria for grades two and three, pre-diagnosed by an orthopedic were included and the participants with any other lower limb musculoskeletal issue and taking any type of treatment were excluded. Participants were assigned into two groups randomly and provided deep longitudinal stripping and kneading. Outcome measures were pain, range of motion and functional activity collected at the baseline, 2nd week, and 4th week.
Results:
Participants in the kneading and deep stripping groups had respective mean ages of 55.27 ± 9.38 and 55.86 ± 8.59 years. Pain, range of motion, and functional activity did not differ significantly between the two groups at baseline, the second week and the fourth week (p<0.05). As the p-value ˃ 0.05, the between-group analysis had no statistically significant differences in pain, range of motion and functional activity.
Conclusion:
The study concluded that both the deep stripping and kneading techniques had equal effectiveness on individuals with knee osteoarthritis. Thus, both techniques can be used as an adjuvant treatment option for knee osteoarthritis.