KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on Knee Osteoarthritis

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on Knee Osteoarthritis

Introduction

Knee Osteoarthritis includes a group of diseases with similar clinical and radiological and pathological changes common. Pain is the most common symptom, locating this in the affected joint. EPISER The study, conducted in Spain, shows that the prevalence of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis in the population over 20 years is 10.2% 1. This study estimated the prevalence of knee osteoarthritis in the adult population ranges between 0.4 and 9.8%, reaching 33.7% in people over 70 years. Osteoarthritis of the knee is more common in women than in men (14.0 and 5.7% respectively). Patients with osteoarthritis have a deficit in quadriceps strength compared with controls matched for age and sex 2-5. It is believed that the weakness in the quadriceps muscle reduces its ability to protect the knee, predisposing it to increased stress and perhaps structural damage. The weakness of the quadriceps is associated with worsening in self-perceived dysfunction (Bagga, 2006). Slemenda et al 6 have provided evidence that some patients with osteoarthritis of the knee show a quadriceps weakness even in the absence of pain or atrophy.

Discussion

Arthritis is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal chronic conditions in older adults, exceeding disability rates among individuals with cardiovascular disease. In 2002, approximately 15.7 million Americans in the United States (US) were physician-diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA). The size of the older adult population is growing exponentially. By the year 2025, the Baby Boom generation will be between the ages of 61 and 79. The prevalence of OA is expected to dramatically rise as this generation ages. Arthritis, literally translated, means joint inflammation. Osteoarthritis is characterized by pain with weight bearing activities, osteophyte formation, joint space narrowing, and subchondral bone sclerosis. The most common site for the development of OA is the tibiofemoral joint. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a risk factor for the development of OA. Excess body weight is believed to correlate with increases in biomechanical stress placed on weight-bearing joints that may lead to the breakdown of articular cartilage and increases in arthritis-related pain. Age, gender, and physical activity level also increase the likelihood of developing OA; while, knee joint alignment, joint space narrowing, and quadriceps strength are also potential disease-modifiable risk factors that influence disease progression. The major clinical findings in persons with OA are joint pain, stiffness, swelling, decreased knee joint range of motion, and muscle weakness. Patients with end-stage OA, awaiting joint replacement surgery, report significantly more pain compared to the United States population at large. Pain is the body's defense mechanism to warn against potentially harmful stimuli and, as such, can negatively impact the ability to perform routine tasks. Persons with knee OA exhibit reduced walking speeds of up to 50%, increased time to negotiate a flight of stairs, and longer Timed Up & Go (TUG) times. It is not until activity modification is no longer successful in controlling pain and function is severely impaired that patients often seek medical ...