| Objective: To observe the clinical effectiveness of proprioception training for knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods: A total of 102 patients with KOA were randomly divided into observation group and control group, with 51 patients in each group. The patients in both groups were treated with routine exercise therapy and transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation. The observation group received proprioception training additionally. Before and 4 weeks after treatment, the joint range of motion (ROM) was evaluated with an angle ruler. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the pain. BioDex balance test system was used to measure static fall index (SFI), dynamic fall index (DFI) and limit of stability (LOS). The function of the knee joint was evaluated by the time “up and go” test (TUGT) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis index (WOMAC). The long-term effect was observed by the satisfaction score 3 months after discharge. Results: The scores of active range of motion (AROM), passive range of motion (PROM), VAS, balance function, TUGT and WOMAC of the knee joint in both groups were significantly better than those before training (P<0.05), and those in the observation group were better than in the control group after 4 weeks of treatment (P<0.05). The patients’ satisfaction in the observation group was 92.16%, which was significantly higher than that in the control group (80.39%) after three months (P<0.05). Conclusion: On the basis of routine rehabilitation intervention, proprioception training can further alleviate the pain of KOA patients, improve the knee joint function, knee flexion angle and balance ability, and improve the quality of life of patients. |
