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Background: Musculoskeletal degenerative diseases, such as osteoporosis, knee osteoarthritis and spondylolysis often occur in the elderly. The purpose of this case study was to investigate selective region high-frequency diathermy at trigger points with therapeutic exercises on pain, dysfunction, balance and gait in older patients with degenerative knee osteoarthritis.Methods. The patient who participated in this study was a 71-year-old woman, who had been diagnosed with moderate osteoarthritis with a Kellgren & Lawrence grading scale grade II. The treatment consisted of selective region high-frequency diathermy at trigger points, with hip and knee strengthening and stretching therapeutic exercises. Both treatments were applied simultaneously. The participant was given assessments before and after every training session using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), the Timed Up and Go test (TUG) and the 10 Meter Walk Test (10MWT). The participant was assessed a total of 19 times and treatment was performed 18 times for a total of 30 minutes each. Results. Consecutively, VAS decreased to 3 points, and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index decreased to 53 points. In addition, the Timed Up and Go test decreased to 3.25 s and the 10 Meter Walk Test decreased to 1.14 s.Conclusion. The results of this study suggest that selective region high-frequency diathermy at trigger points with therapeutic exercises may be an effective treatment to decrease pain, improve functional status, balance and gait in patients with degenerative knee osteoarthritis. The selective region high-frequency diathermy with therapeutic exercises may be feasible and provide potential benefits for rehabilitation of degenerative knee osteoarthritis.

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