Effectiveness of Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization Technique on Hamstring Flexibility in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis – A Non-Randomized Trial

Abstract

Background: Osteoarthritis is a common prevalent rheumatic disease which can lead to pain, decrease in range of motion and disability. Hamstring muscles can also effect the knee joint in such conditions which need to be focused. Objective: To determine the effectiveness of instrument Assisted soft Tissue Mobilization Technique on Hamstring Flexibility in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis. Study Design: Non-Randomized Trial. Settings: The data was collected from Reactive Physio Lahore Pakistan. Duration: The study was conducted from December 2021 to March 2022. Methods: By using simple Convenient Method 36 patients was considered for the conduction of this study. Subjects diagnosed with Osteoarthritis grade II and III were included as per inclusion criteria and then divided in two groups with 18 subjects in each, where Group A was given IASTM and B was given bent leg raise. Pain was measured using Numeric pain rating and Range of Motion was measured using goniometer, Physical function using WOMAC items and Active knee extension for hamstring flexibility. The outcomes were assessed before and after 8 weeks of intervention. The data was distributed normally, Pair sample test was used for with group and independent t- test was used for between group analyses of outcome of interest. Results: The study comprised of 36 subjects in both groups. There were 22 males and 14 females with a mean age of 53.18 ± 5.90. The mean pain score in experimental group A was 7.72 ± 0.95 and reduced to 2.50 ± 1.33 after 8 weeks of intervention compared to 7.50 ± 1.04 to 3.67 ± 1.78 in control group (B) While Knee flexion in A was B 79.72 ± 5.80 to 94.74 ± 4.36 in experimental group compared to group B 77.22 ± 5.74 to 89.17 ± 7.12. Between the group using independent sample T-test showing dominant effects of IASTM (group A) compared to group with a p value = <0.05. Conclusion: The study resulted that IASTM had significant effects on improving Pain, Function and ROM in patients with Knee OA.