Effects of pulsed therapeutic ultrasound on the treatment of people with knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

[Purpose] The aim was to evaluate the effect of therapeutic ultrasound on the pain, joint mobility, muscle strength, physical function, and quality of life of people with knee OA. [Subjects and Methods] One-site, one-arm, before-after study that included people with Grade II or III tibiofemoral osteoarthritis. Ten therapeutic ultrasound sessions (duty cycle=20%, ERA=10 cm2, BNR=6:1, SATP=2.2 W/cm2, SATA=0.44 W/cm2, frequency=1 MHz, time=4 minutes) were applied. Assessments of primary outcome variables: pain intensity and function, and secondary variables: joint mobility, muscle strength and quality of life, were performed at onset and end of therapy; an additional intermediate evaluation was included for the primary variables. [Results] Means of repeated measurements of pain intensity (pain at rest, pain on palpation and pain after functional activities) and function showed significant differences. There was a significant reduction in pain intensity at the end of functional activities as well as a significant increase in function and in quadriceps muscle strength. [Conclusion] Therapeutic ultrasound applied in accordance with the parameters used, could be recommended during the treatment of individuals with knee osteoarthritis, because it significantly decreased the intensity of pain after the 5th session, and this reduction was maintained until the end of the intervention.

Comparing the Effect of High-intensity and Low-intensity Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Pain Relief and Functional Activity Improvement in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

“…In this scale, the patient's perceived pain is ranked from zero to ten, with zero indicating no pain and ten indicating the most imaginable perceived pain. The validity and reliability of this pain intensity measuring scale have been confirmed in several previous studies (25,27,28).…”

Effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

“…5,6 In recent years, physicians have paid increasing attention to physical factors therapies, including ultrasound, laser therapy, and electroanalgesia, to manage osteoarthritis. [7][8][9][10][11][12] low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS), one kind of therapeutic ultrasound, has been approved to treat fresh fracture and nonunion for more than 20 years in the United States. In recent years, the effect of LIPUS on osteoarthritis has been discussed by various studies.…”

Effects of therapeutic ultrasound for knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Common treatments for osteoarthritis include pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, as well as surgery. 9 In recent years, physicians have paid increasing attention to non-pharmacological therapies including ultrasound, 10,11 laser therapy 12,13 and electroanalgesia 14,15 for the management of osteoarthritis-related pain. 16 Ultrasound has been used as a non-invasive and safe physiotherapy for musculoskeletal conditions since its initial approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of fractures in 1994.…”