The Effects of Isokinetic and Functional Training on Strength and Ability to Perform Daily Activities in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients

Introduction: Despite the well-known fact that exercises are the effective treatment in OA, exact modalities, amount and types of exercise that would be beneficial and not destructive to the affected joint are unknown and most effective types and combinations of exercise and the amount of those are still unclear. Study objectives included assessing the effects of Isokinetic Training (IT) and Functional Task Training (FT) on the peak torque at various angular velocities, pain, ability to perform daily activities and basic functional mobility in osteoarthritis patients.

Materials and Methods: Eligible 48 patients (considering possible dropouts) who fulfilled the criteria were selected and randomly assigned to isokinetic training (IT) functional training (FT) and control with no exercise (CG) groups to participate in an intervention program involving baseline, mid- (6 weeks) and post- intervention (12 weeks) assessment through isokinetic testing to assess patient’s quadriceps peak torque at 90°/s, 120°/s and 180°/s angular velocities; WOMAC physical function questionnaire to assess patient’s pain, stiffness and ability to perform daily activities; timed up and go test (TUG) to assess subjects’ basic functional mobility.

Results: Both training modalities improved patient’s strength, pain, and ability to perform daily activities and basic functional mobility with significant improvements at mid- and post-tests as compared to controls. FT group has equaled IT group in strength gains at every tested angular velocity, FT group was significantly superior in physical function.

Conclusion: Both interventions brought significant improvements in studied variables with FT group emerging superior in physical function domain.