Effectiveness of mulligan’s mwm on pain, range of motion and functional activities in patients with knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

Objective: To compare pain intensity at resting, sitting, standing, squatting, activities of daily living, walking, and stair up & down, Range of Motion (ROM) in sitting & standing position and functional activities before and after Mulligan‟s MWM with conventional physiotherapy and conventional Physiotherapy alone in patients with knee Osteoarthritis. Methodology: 14 patients with knee Osteoarthritis were randomly selected from musculo-skeletal outpatient physiotherapy unit, CRP, Savar. Then 7 patients with knee Osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to Mulligan‟s MWM with conventional physiotherapy group and 7 patients to the only conventional physiotherapy group for this randomized control trial study. The study was a single blinded study which has been conducted at musculoskeletal outpatient physiotherapy unit, CRP, Savar. Trial group was given Mulligan‟s MWM and conventional physical therapy (exercise and IRR) and control group was given conventional physiotherapy (exercise and IRR) only. Both the group received the treatment for a period of 6 days. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to measure pain intensity in resting, sitting, standing, squatting, functional activities, walking, and stair up & down. Western Ontario McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score for functional activities & goniometer for ROM. Pain and WOMAC score was analyzed by Mann- Whitney U test. Unrelated “t” test was used to compare the ROM. Results: Results showed that, relative improvement occur in trial group than in control group. Pain scores on VAS at resting, sitting, standing, walking, squatting, activities of daily living & stair up & down. WOMAC score measurement for functional activities was relatively reduced in trial group on both group comparisons. Range of motion was relatively reduced, but that‟s not statistically significant. Conclusion: Conventional physiotherapy is effective in improving pain and functional activities but Mulligan MWM has an added effect on reducing pain and improves ROM & functional activities. Key words: Knee Osteoarthritis, Conventional physiotherapy, Mulligan‟s MWM.