Naslov
The effect of pulsed electromagnetic fields on basic mobility measured by timed up & go test in patients with knee osteorthritis
(The effect of pulsed electromagnetic fields on basic mobility measured by timed up & go test in patients with knee osteorthrit)

Autori
Nemčić, Tomislav ; Grazio, Simeon ; Grubišić, Frane ; Matijević, Valentina ; Skala, Hana

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology / Bombardieri, Stefano - Pisa : Pacini editor SpA, 2009, 740-741

Skup
XIII Mediterranean Congress of Rheumatology

Mjesto i datum
Cavtat, Hrvatska, 18.11.2009. - 21.11.2009

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
knee osteoarthritis ; mobility ; pulsed electromagnetic fields

Sažetak
Background. Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is the single greatest cause of chronic disability among community-dwelling older adults. Some studies have suggested that pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) might be effective in treating symptoms and signs of OA, but their results are doubtful. Objective. To assess the effect of PEMFs on basic mobility measured by the Timed Up & Go (TUG) test in patients with knee OA through a single-blind placebo controlled clinical study. Methods. Fifty-six patients with established diagnosis of knee OA, aged 60.628.81 years, were included in this study. Average duration of the symptoms was 10.5717.64 months. The patients were assigned into two groups: therapy group in which PEMF was administered (intensity 6 mT ; frequency12 Hz) and placebo group where the machine was turned off. Each patient received a total of 20 treatments that were administered for 30 minutes. In addition, all patients were performing isometric exercises for quadriceps muscle strengthening, on daily basis, while no change in analgesics or NSAIDs was allowed. The patients were asked to performed TUG test before the therapy, at the end of the therapy and one month after the therapy was finished. Results. Thirty-tree patients were in the therapy group and 23 in placebo, with no difference in baseline parameters between them. The mean TUG test score on initial assessment was 13.682.69 seconds in therapy group and 13.833.36 seconds in placebo group. After the PEMFs therapy the scores were 12.152.95 seconds and 13.134.48, respectively. Comparing to baseline values the improvement in the therapy group was statistically significant at the end of the treatment (t=2.592, df=32, p<0.01), as well as at post-treatment follow-up (t=1.91, df=28, p<0.05). In placebo group, no significant difference in TUG test scores was observed at the end of sham-therapy (t=1.197, df=22, p>0.05) and after one month of follow-up (t=0.165 ; df=22, p>0.05). Conclusion. In our sample of patients with knee OA, PEMFs therapy showed improvement in basic mobility measured by TUG test. Further studies with a larger number of patients are needed to confirm these results.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kliničke medicinske znanosti

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