Article

The aim of this study was to compare whether the effectiveness of
continuous ultrasound (US) was superior against pulsed US and against sham US in
knee osteoarthritis. DESIGN: A randomized controlled study was carried out on 60
patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis according to American College of
Rheumatology. The patients were randomized into the following three treatments:
(1) continuous US (at a frequency of 1 MHz with intensity of 1 W/cm), (2) pulse
US (same frequency and intensity on 1:4 pulse ratio), and (3) sham US. All
treatments were applied with 5-cm head US device five times a week for 2 weeks in
addition to home exercise program including quadriceps isometric exercise, muscle
strength exercises, and stretching exercises of the lower extremity muscles for
at least three times per week. Assessments were performed at baseline, at the end
of the treatment, and at the end of the treatments and at the sixth month using
the following measurements: Western Ontario and McMaster University
Osteoarthritis Index-pain, stiffness, function, visual analog scale-pain at rest,
visual analog scale-pain on movement, visual analog scale-disease severity, and
20-m walking time. Among these parameters, the Western Ontario and McMaster
University Osteoarthritis Index-pain was the primary outcome. RESULTS: All groups
showed a significant improvement in all parameters in both following visits (P <
0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the groups. Although
the mean reduction percent in Western Ontario and McMaster University
Osteoarthritis Index-pain was significantly higher in group I (continuous US)
when compared to sham group (46.5% vs 28.9%, P < 0.05) at the end of the
treatment, this result was not found in other pain parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The
present study demonstrated that all assessment parameters significantly improved
in all groups without a significant difference. This result suggested that
therapeutic US provided no additional benefit in improving pain and functions in
addition to exercise training.

Langue : ANGLAIS