Neuromuscular Training Versus Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on Balance in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients

Background: Balance disturbance is one of the most common complications of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the impact of neuromuscular training and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on balance in KOA. Subjects: 45 patients with unilateral KOA and they were assigned randomly into three equal groups. Method: Group A received neuromuscular training in addition to ultrasound (US) and moist heat, group B received NMES plus US and moist heat, group C received US and moist heat. Balance was assessed using the Biodex system and pain intensity was assessed by using the visual analogue scale for each patient before and after treatment. Results: There was a significant difference in balance between all groups with highly significant improvement for group A and there was a significant difference for pain intensity with highly significant improvement for group A. Conclusion: Neuromuscular training has a higher beneficial effect for treatment of patients with KOA than neuromuscular electrical stimulation .