Short-term effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation and ultrasound therapies on muscle architecture and functional capacity in knee osteoarthritis: a randomized study:

Objective:To determine the effects of ultrasound therapy and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) application on the muscle architecture and functional capacity in patients with knee osteoarthritis.Design:A randomized study.Subjects:A total of 60 patients with knee osteoarthritis.Interventions:Participants were randomized into one of the following two intervention groups, five days a week, for three weeks: the combination of NMES application, hot pack, and exercise therapy was applied to the NMES group. The combination of therapeutic ultrasound, hot pack and exercise therapy was applied to the ultrasound therapy group.Main measures:Subjects were evaluated for pain and functional capacity with the use of the visual analog pain scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), and 15 meter walking test. The muscle architecture (muscle thickness, pennation angle and fascicle length) was assessed from vastus lateralis and quadriceps femoris muscles bilaterally by ultrasono...