• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.69-75
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• 2019

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) diagnosis using Kellgren-Lawrence scores is commonly used to help decision-making during assessment of the severity of OA with assessment of pain, function and muscle strength. The association between Kellgren-Lawrence scores and functional/clinical outcomes remains controversial in patients with knee OA. Objects: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between Kellgren-Lawrence scores and knee pain associated with OA, function during daily living and sports activities, quality of life, and knee muscle strength in patients with knee OA. Methods: We recruited 66 patients with tibiofemoral knee OA and determined knee joint Kellgren-Lawrence scores using standing anteroposterior radiographs. Self-reported knee pain, daily living function, sports/recreation function, and quality of life were measured using the knee injury and OA outcome score (KOOS). Knee extensors and flexors were assessed using a handheld dynamometer. We performed Spearman's rank correlation analyses to evaluate the relationships between Kellgren-Lawrence and KOOS scores or muscle strength. Results: Kellgren-Lawrence scores were significantly negatively correlated with KOOS scores for knee pain, daily living function, sports/recreation function, and quality of life. Statistically significant negative correlations were found between Kellgren-Lawrence scores and knee extensor strength but not flexor strength. Conclusion: Higher Kellgren-Lawrence scores were associated with more severe knee pain and lower levels of function in daily living and sports/recreation, quality of life, and knee extensor strength in patients with knee OA. Therefore, we conclude that knee OA assessment via self-reported KOOS and knee extensor strength may be a cost-effective alternative to radiological exams.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 2021

Background: Although symmetry of spatio-temporal parameter and center of pressure (COP) shift during walking is associated with knee adduction moment, research on clinical association with knee osteoarthritis (OA)-related knee pain and functional scores is lacking. Objects: The aims were 1) to compare symmetry of gait parameters and COP-shift in patients with unilateral knee OA and pain and matched controls, and 2) to investigate the relationship between symmetry of gait parameters and COP-shift, and clinical measures. Methods: Female subjects (n = 16) had with unilateral radiological knee OA and pain. Healthy controls (n = 15) were age-matched to OA group. Symmetry of foot rotation, step length, stance and swing phase, lateral symmetry of COP and anterior/posterior symmetry of COP during walking was assessed. To assess the clinical variables, pain intensity, pain duration and function using Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Survey (KOOS) subscales were collected. We compared symmetry between groups using Mann-Whitney U-test or independent t-test. Relationships between clinical measures and symmetry index measured using Spearman's correlation test. Statistical significance was set at α = 0.05. Results: Knee OA group showed significantly greater values of only lateral symmetry of COP (p < 0.01) than healthy group. Values of lateral symmetry of COP had moderate or strong correlation significantly with the intensity of knee pain, pain duration, and scores of all KOOS subscales (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Patients with unilateral knee OA and pain showed more asymmetry of lateral COP-shift during walking compared with matched healthy controls. In addition, larger asymmetry of lateral COP-shift has the moderate or strong association with worse of knee pain, worse in KOOS scores and longer duration of knee pain. Asymmetry of lateral COP-shift during walking may be one of the characteristics of unilateral knee OA as the compensatory strategy response to unilateral OA of the knee.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.1830-1833
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• 2019

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) causes not only pain during walking but also walking disorders. Therefore, intervention for older patients with OA is important. Objective: To study investigated the effects of kinesio taping (KT) on pain and walking ability in elderly persons with knee OA. Design: One group, pre-post design Methods: This study enrolled 12 community-dwelling elderly people with knee OA. KT was applied on the surrounding structures, including the patellar and bilateral lateral ligaments. Assessment was made using the visual analog scale and GAITRite system to measure pain and walking ability during KT and non-KT conditions. Results: In this study, compared to the non-KT condition, the KT condition showed a significant improvement in walking ability and pain reduction during walking (velocity, cadence, step length, and stride length) (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that knee KT has a positive effect on pain reduction and walking ability of the elderly with OA.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.33-42
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• 2018

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of the Flex-OA shoe, a specific functional shoe, in terms of the range of motion (ROM) of hip and knee joint during walking when compared to a standardized shoe. Methods : Twenty-six healthy adults (18 males, 6 females) participated in this study. Subjects performed 8 walking trials consisting of two different shoe conditions to evaluate the hip and knee ROM using a three-dimensional motion capture system. Visual 3D motion analysis software was finally used to coordinate the kinematic data. Result : The total ROM and maximal abduction range of the hip joint in the coronal planes when wearing the Flex-OA shoe were significantly increased during walking compared to wearing a standard shoe (p<.05). On the other hand, significantly increased ROM was observed in the sagittal plane when wearing the Flex-OA shoe in the knee joints compared to a standard shoe (p<.05). Conclusion : Although clinical application of the specific functional shoe has known clearly positive effects on knee moments, the results of this study could provide important clues to explain the background of these effects in terms of the hip and knee joints when applying a specific functional shoe.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2004

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the correlation of pain, stiffness, and physical function by analyizing the KWOMAC socre of the patients with degenerative knee OA, is the most common disease among senior population. Method : 100 degenerative knee OA patients, diagnosed at the hostpital or clinic located in Degu and Kyung-buk province were participated in the study. Result : This study results in following conclusions. 1. Degenerative knee OA patients complained the pain going up or down stairs, stiffness after getting up in the morning. immediately. 2. They also had significant difficulty ascending or decending stairs, getting in or out of car, rising from sitting, doing chores. 3. There was the high correlation among pain, stiffness, physical function. Conclusions : It may provide information to assess the ADL of knee OA patients and the exercise, outcome for their independent life effectly.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.205-218
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• 2021

Background: Korean medicine treatment was assessed in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) according to subgroups of: sex, age, cause of knee OA, body mass index, hospitalization period, history, OA compartment, phenotype, and comorbidity. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of 122 inpatients who were admitted to the Hospital of Korean Medicine for Korean medicine treatment of knee pain, and were diagnosed with knee OA based on magnetic resonance imaging findings. Analysis of patient subgroups (sex, age, cause of knee OA, body mass index, hospitalization period, history, OA compartment, phenotype, and comorbidity) was carried out and treatments including acupuncture, cupping, pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine, chuna therapy, medicinal steaming therapy, manual therapy, and extracorporeal shock wave therapy were listed. The numeric rating scale (NRS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and 5-level EuroQol- 5 Dimension (EQ-5D-5L) scores were measured before and after treatment to assess the effects of treatment on pain and quality of life. Results: Seventeen males and 105 females were included in this study. Most patients were in their 60s. In the total study population, NRS, WOMAC, and EQ-5D-5L scores were improved statistically significant when comparing before and after treatment. The NRS and WOMAC scores improved statistically significant in the medial, patellofemoral, medial + patellofemoral, medial + lateral + patellofemoral compartment. Conclusion: Korean medicine treatment significantly reduced pain, stiffness, and physical dysfunction, and improved the quality of life of patients with knee OA, suggesting that it may be an effective alternative to the current conservative treatments.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.155-164
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• 2006

Objectives : The aim of this study is to validate the correlation between Assessment Instruments of Knee OA and digital infrared thermographic imaging(DITI) and to find out the methods to assess knee OA by DITI. Methods : 60 subjects were evaluated. They were asked to answer VAS pain scale, WOMAC, KHAQ and LFI. Correlation was assessed by examining the spearman's rank correlation coefficients. Results : VAS, WOMAC and LFI was correlated with not only the thermal difference between Ant. knee and Post. knee, but also the lowest temperature of Ant. knee. Conclusion: DITI value was useful for evaluating the degree of OA. And we should find out that decrease of pain is correlated with change of DITI value.

• Journal of Oriental Medical Thermology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 2006

Objectives: The aim of this syudy is to validate the between Assessment Instruments of Knee OA and digital infrared thermographic imaging(DITI) and to find out the methods to assess knee OA by DITI. Methods: 60 subjects were evaluated. They were asked to answer VAS pain scale, WOMAC, KHAQ and LFI. Correlation was assessed by examining the spearman's rank correlation coefficients. Results: VAS, WOMAC and LFI was correlated with not only the thermal difference between Ant. knee and Post. knee, but also the lowest temperature of Ant. knee. Conclusion: DITI value was useful for evaluating the degree of OA. And we should find out that decrease of pain is correlated with change of DITI value.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.60-66
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• 2019

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a single most arthritic disease. Knee joint space width (JSW) is commonly used for grading severity of knee OA. However, previous studies did not established criterion validity and test-retest reliability of ultrasound (US) image for measuring JSW. Objects: The aim of this study was to establish criterion validity and test-retest reliability of US measurement of medial and lateral knee JSW. Methods: Twenty-nine subjects with knee OA were participated. The US and X-ray were used to measure knee JSW. One sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to confirm the data normal distribution. Pearson correlation coefficient and ICC were used to calculated and establish criterion validity and test-retest reliability, respectively. Results: US measurement of medial and lateral knee JSW was highly correlated with radiographic imaging measure (r=.714 and .704, respectively). Test-retest reliabilities of medial and lateral knee JSW were excellent correlated (ICC=.959 for medial side and .988 for lateral side, respectively). Conclusion: US may be valid tool to measure knee JSW.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.22-31
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• 2019

Objective: For knee osteoarthritis (OA), there is a demand for alternative modalities in order to delay surgery and to avoid the side effects of medications. This study compared the effects of applying seaweed pack and mudpack for the treatment of knee OA. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty-five patients with knee OA who satisfied the criteria were included. The patients were divided into two groups according to the treatment method: mudpack (n=12) and seaweed pack (n=13). The two groups were treated for 20 minutes, twice a day for five continuous days at the Ocean Healing Center at Wando Island, South Korea. Participants were assessed by clinical scores (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, Hospital for Special Surgery Knee Score, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey) and lab results (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, insulin-like growth factor-1 [IGF-1], tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ [$TNF-{\alpha}$]) during the follow-up period. Results: For the most part, clinical scores improved after therapy and maintained improvements for four weeks in both groups (p<0.05). In the seaweed group, $TNF-{\alpha}$ was significantly decreased at two weeks post-therapy (p<0.05). In both groups, IGF-1 was significantly increased immediately post-therapy (p<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences after therapy between the groups in clinical scores and labs. Conclusions: Seaweed packs and mudpacks had similar positive effects for knee OA. Additionally, the seaweed pack group showed decreased levels of $TNF-{\alpha}$ at two weeks post-treatment, which may explain the reduced inflammatory reaction. For rehabilitation therapy, use of seaweed packs may serve as an alternative modality for the treatment of knee OA.