Effectiveness of Addition of Rectus Femoris Stretching to Conventional Exercise Program among Knee Osteoarthritis Patients

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a most common degenerative joint disease that causes pain and joint dysfunction in elderly. It impairs physical activity and quality of life and contributes significantly to the global burden of disease. Patients with knee OA are more likely to have tightness in the rectus femoris muscle, which is the only two joint muscle in the knee extensors group. Thereby limiting the knee range of motion and exacerbating symptoms such as pain, rectus femoris length and gait speed. Research specifically focusing on the effectiveness of rectus femoris stretching in knee OA patients, has found to be limited on the population of India. There appears to be gap in scientific literature regarding the said approach and its impact in addition to conventional exercise program in individuals with knee OA. Further research is needed to throw light to the possible effects and results of incorporating rectus femoris stretching to conventional exercise program for this population. Hence, the study titled “effectiveness of addition of rectus femoris stretching to conventional exercise program among knee OA patients” is designed. Total 24 participants having knee OA with rectus femoris tightness will be included in the study. Participants will be recruited into the study by convenient sampling method and according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participants will be assessed for pain intensity using numerical rating scale, rectus femoris length will be assessed using universal goniometer and gait speed using 10-meter walk test. Conventional exercise program and addition of rectus femoris stretching in to conventional exercise program will be allotted to control and study group respectively by chit method. Pain, rectus femoris length and gait speed will be assessed on 1st visit pre-treatment followed by 3rd, 6th and 9th visit post treatment sessions. Total 9 follow up sessions will be taken - 3 days/week for 3 weeks, study duration for each session will be for 30 minutes. Descriptive analysis of data will be performed and appropriate parametric and non-parametric tests will be used based on distribution of sample.