A Better Way to Decrease Knee Swelling in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Single-Blind Randomised Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objective. In this study, we compared the effects of intermittent pneumatic compression along with conventional treatment with cold-pack treatment along with conventional treatment on clinical outcomes in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods. Eighty-nine patients with knee osteoarthritis participated in this study. One group received ultrasound, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, electrical stimulation, exercise, and cold packs. The second group received ultrasound, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, electrical stimulation, exercise, and intermittent pneumatic compression. Range of motion, muscle strength, knee swelling, pain intensity, and functional status were measured at baseline and 4th week. Results. We found significant improvements in range of motion, muscle strength, pain intensity, and functional status after the treatment in both groups (p<0.05). When comparing the effects of these two treatment programs, it was observed that the intermittent pneumatic compression treatment group had a better outcome in terms of knee swelling (p=0.028). Conclusions. According to the results, we could report that intermittent pneumatic compression therapy in addition to conventional treatment has significant positive effects on clinical outcomes in patients with knee osteoarthritis. We could also report that intermittent pneumatic compression therapy along with conventional treatment is superior to cold-pack therapy along with conventional treatment in terms of knee swelling in patients with knee osteoarthritis. This trial is registered with NCT03806322.

Effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in people with knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Muscle tone and strength, blood supply, concentration of toxins within the joint, joint swelling and ligament dysfunction may all affect joint stiffness, independent of their causal relationship with pain. 29 Although TENS could increase blood supply and reduce swelling, 67 it may not that efficient to cause significant results. More studies are needed to illustrate whether TENS is benefit to reduce stiffness of people with KOA.…”

Osteoarthritis year in review 2020: rehabilitation and outcomes

“…The 38 identified RCTs investigated various individual (aerobic 35,51,57 , (aquatic 42,43 , neuromuscular 39,47 , resistancebased, 38,44,45 ) and combined 37,41,46 exercise-therapies/physical activities, technologies (telerehab 48,50 , video games 40 ) and behaviour change approaches 49 to improve adherence to exercise and PA, modalities (cryotherapy 54,68 , electrical current therapy 53 , ESWT 62 , interferential current 61 , laser 32 , pneumatic compression 58 , transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation 60 and therapeutic ultrasound 59 ), manual (acupressure 65 , mobilization with movement 66,67 , neurodynamic mobilizations 34 ), needling 36,52 , taping 33,63,64 , or combined 55,56,69 therapies.…”

Can Ultrasound Therapy Be an Environmental-Friendly Alternative to Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment?

“…Other non-drug therapeutic methods found to efficiently reduce pain and improve function in knee OA were intermittent pneumatic compression [ 75 ], manual therapy, use of braces, orthosis or canes, psychosocial interventions, education, weigh loss [ 76 , 77 ], yoga, acupuncture, radiofrequency ablation, thermal modalities [ 78 ], mud-pack therapy, mud-bath therapy, balneotherapy, and spa therapy [ 79 ].…”