Neuromuscular exercises: A new perspective in knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

Background. Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent arthropathy across the world. It presents with swelling, pain, decreased range of motion (ROM) and instability. Patients also complain of thigh muscle weakness and lower limb weakness resulting in poor joint shielding and joint overload. Owing to these presenting features patients are prone to increased risk of morbidity and are forced to live with functional impairment. Exercises are one of the vital intervention programme used in knee OA. Exercises lead to improvement in physical function, strengthening of the muscles and reduction in pain. Neuromuscular exercises have effects on functional performance, biomechanics and activation pattern of surrounding musculatures of the patient. Therefore, neuromuscular exercises may prove to be beneficial in enhancing the efficacy of exercise training programmes in such patients due to functional instability and disturbed neuromuscular function. Purpose. This article intends to review the effect and role of neuromuscular exercises in the management of knee osteoarthritis. Method. Comprehensive computerized search was performed on Google Scholar, Pubmed and Cochrane. Conclusion. By evaluating various articles on neuromuscular exercises in knee osteoarthritis the present review suggests that neuromuscular exercises are helpful in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

Keywords

• knee osteoarthritis
• neuromuscular exercises
• knee joint
• joint load