Clinical Study attributes
Knee osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease characterized by destruction and progressive loss of articular cartilage. In an advanced stage of the disease, the patient undergoes a total replacement of the knee joint with an artificial joint (total arthroplasty). The aim of this clinical study is to investigate the effect of combining a therapeutic exercise program based on Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) and tendon vibration in older adult patients after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Ninety (90) adults over 65 years of age who will undergo TKA due to knee osteoarthritis will be divided into three groups of 30 people each (two intervention and one control). The participants of the first group will follow a therapeutic exercise protocol based on the PNF technique for six weeks. The participants of the second intervention group will follow the same therapeutic exercise program based on PNF and at the same time tendon vibration will be applied to the Achilles tendon for the same period. Finally, the participants of the third group (control group) will follow the conventional physical therapy postoperative treatment. The subjective perception of pain with the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Active Range of Motion (AROM) of knee flexion with a goniometer, functional ability with the Knee Injury Outcome Questionnaire and osteoarthritis (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, KOOS), quality of life with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), balance confidence with the balance confidence (CONFbal) scale, dynamic balance with the Time Up and Go (TUG) tests and Berg Balance Scale (BBS), displacement of the center of mass by static posturography, and knee proprioception by calculating joint position sense with an isokinetic dynamometer will be assessed at the beginning of the intervention , at week 3, week 6 and six months after the end of the intervention. For the statistical analysis of the results, a two-factor analysis of variance with repeated measurements will be applied, while the statistical significance index will be set at p \< .05.
