Effects of Passive Whole-Body Vibration and Auriculotherapy on the Surface Electromyographic Pattern of the Vastus Lateralis Right Muscle in Individuals with Knee Osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a cause of public disability, mainly in elderly. The management of KOA symptoms requires a combination of conservative interventions for the joint, including both pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies. The analysis of the surface electromyographic pattern (sEMG) of the Vastus lateralis right(VLR) muscle may increase the understanding of some functions that are impaired by KOA and investigate if passive whole-body vibration (pWBV) or auriculotherapy (AT) increases the neuromuscular activity in these individuals. This study aimed to evaluate the effect (immediate and cumulative effects of a 5-week intervention). The immediate and cumulative effects of the interventions on the sEMG behavior of the VLR muscle were evaluated in all participants. AT, alone or combined with pWBV, significantly increased the recruitment of muscle fibers after 5 weeks of intervention in KOA patients.