A Comparison of Home-Based Exercise Programs with and without Self-Manual Therapy in Individuals with Knee Osteoarthritis in Community
Kornkamon Cheawthamai PT*, Mantana Vongsirinavarat PhD*, Vimonwan Hiengkaew PhD*, Sasithorn Saengrueangrob PT*
Affiliation : * Faculty of Physical Therapy, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
Objective : The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of the treatment programs of home-based exercise with and
without self-manual therapy in individuals with knee osteoarthritis (knee OA) in community.
Material and Method: Forty-three participants with knee OA were randomly assigned in groups. All participants received
the same home-based exercise program with or without self-manual therapy over 12 weeks. Outcome measures were pain
intensity, range of motions, six-minute walk test distance, the knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS), short-
form 36 (SF-36) and satisfaction.
Results : The results showed that the self-manual therapy program significantly decreased pain at 4 weeks, increased flexion
and extension at 4 and 12 weeks, and improved the KOOS in pain item and SF-36 in physical function and mental health items.
The home-based exercise group showed significant increase of the six-minute walk distance at 4 and 12 weeks, improvements
in the KOOS in pain and symptom items and SF-36 in the physical function and role-emotional items.
Conclusion : Overall, the results favored a combination of self-manual therapy and home-based exercise for patients with
knee OA, which apparently showed superior benefits in decreasing pain and improving active knee range of motions.
Keywords : Knee osteoarthritis, Self-manual therapy, Home-based exercise, Physical therapy, Community
