Effects of Electromyographic Biofeedback on the Performance of Vastus Medialis Oblique Muscle in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial. (original) (raw)

Background: Knee osteoarthritis is a common musculoskeletal disorder. Enhancing the performance of Vastus Medialis Oblique (VMO) can reduce the symptoms. Objective: The study objective was to determine the effects of Electromyographic Biofeedback (EMG BF) on the performance of VMO in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: A Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) was conducted at Pakistan Railways General Hospital, Rawalpindi from July to December 2019. In this study, n = 30 patients with a diagnosis of knee OA were recruited, with an age range of 0 to 65 years. The participants were randomly allocated to two groups. Group A received isometric exercises with Electromyographic Biofeedback (EMG BF) training, and Group B received only isometric exercises for 6 weeks. The assessments were taken at the baseline and after the 6th week of intervention. The outcome measure of vastus medialis oblique (VMO) performance was maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), measured by an EMG BF device, and one-repetition maximum (1RM). The VMO muscle thickness was measured by musculoskeletal ultrasound. SPSS version 21 was used for data analysis. Results: The mean age of group A was 58.94±3.1 years, and that of group B was 59.44±2.9 years. There was a significant improvement (p<0.001) in VMO thickness and 1RM in the experimental group. But for MVIC, the between-group difference was not significant (p>0.05). Within-group analysis for all variables was statistically significant (p 0<.001) in both groups. Conclusion: VMO training with an EMG BF device is more effective in enhancing VMO thickness and strength in terms of 1RM in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Keywords: Osteoarthritis, Electromyography Biofeedback, One repetition maximum

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