Research and News
Posts tagged knee osteoarthritis
Biofreeze reduces pain and improves function in knee osteoarthritis patients compared to placebo
Oct 4th
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Dr. Robert Topp at Marquette University has published several studies on the mechanisms of Biofreeze® topical analgesic, as well as exercise interventions using Thera-Band resistance in knee osteoarthritis patients. At TRAC 2011, Dr. Topp presented research on the efficacy of Biofreeze in 20 patients with knee osteoarthritis. The patients had either Biofreeze or a placebo gel applied to their knee; each then performed 5 functional tasks and subsequently reported their pain levels.
The subjects performed significantly better on the 6-minute walk and timed chair-stand when Biofreeze was applied. Applying Biofreeze also significantly reduced pain during the timed chair stand, timed up-and-go, as well as going up and down stairs.
Dr. Topp concluded that Biofreeze topical analgesic resulted in 30% less pain than a placebo during high-load functional tests in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
Read the abstract of his study here: The effect of 3.5 % menthol gel on knee pain and functioning among patients with knee osteoarthritis
Click here to learn more about all the research presented at TRAC 2011
Listen to a podcast interview with Dr. Topp about his project by clicking on the link below:
Standard Podcast More >
Home exercise benefits knee osteoarthritis patients
May 26th
Patients with knee osteoarthritis often have weakness of their hip abductor muscles. Knee osteoarthritis patients have also been shown to have altered biomechancis at the hip, leading to abnormal loading on the medial side of their knee joint. This increase in loading is thought to result in an increased knee adductor moment during gait because of weak hip abductors. Several studies have shown that Thera-Band elastic resistance exercise can decrease pain and increase function in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
Researchers in Canada wanted to see if an 8-week home strengthening program could improve joint loading, strength, pain and function in patients with medial knee osteoarthritis. 40 patients, along with 40 age-matched control subjects without arthritis were included in the study. The patients with knee osteoarthritis had 25% weaker hip abductor strength and significantly greater hip adductor moments compared to the control group.
The home exercise program included sidelying and standing hip abduction strengthening, progressing to elastic bands. The group with knee arthritis performed exercises 3 to 4 times a week with one set to fatigue on both legs. When they could complete 20 repetitions without fatigue, they progressed to the next color band.
After 8 weeks, the osteoarthritis group significantly increased their hip abduction strength More >
Exercise with TENS more effective for knee osteoarthritis
Mar 23rd
Knee osteoarthritis is a very painful condition that often limits activities of daily living (ADL). Several studies have demonstrated that therapeutic exercises, including exercise with Thera-Band elastic resistance products, can reduce pain and increase function in knee osteoarthritis patients. Knee osteoarthritis is also associated with inhibition of the quadriceps, which leads to poor knee extensor strength. This is referred to as “arthrogenic muscle inhibition.” In addition, quadriceps weakness is a primary risk factor for development of knee osteoarthritis.
Knee strengthening exercises with Thera-Band elastic resistance products have shown improvements in knee osteoarthritis pain and function (Topp et al. 2002). Unfortunately, knee arthritis patients may not be able to experience the benefits of therapeutic exercise since knee pain is often a barrier to exercise. Researchers wanted to find out if adding transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) to a knee osteoarthritis exercise program was more effective than an exercise program without TENS. 36 patients were randomly assigned to exercise with TENS or an exercise group with a TENS placebo. The 4 week exercise program included stretching, strengthening, step-ups, balance training, and a wall-squat exercise with an exercise ball.
After the 4-week program, the patients using TENS had significantly higher quadriceps muscle activation than the placebo group. Both groups More >
Prehabilitation exercise for total knee replacement helps patients with severe end-stage arthritis
Feb 22nd
“Prehabilitation” refers to exercise performed before surgery that helps reduce functional decline after surgery. The theory is that a higher level of function pre-operatively will provide a higher level of function post-operatively, thus shortening the rehabilitation process. Prehabilitation exercise has been shown effective at preventing functional decline in frail elderly individuals (Gill et al. 2002).
For the past 4 years , Dr. Robert Topp and his colleagues at the University of Louisville have been researching the effects of a “prehab” program for patients scheduled for total knee replacement surgery. Their exercise program features progressive Thera-Band resistance exercises performed over a period of 4 to 8 weeks before surgery. Last year, I featured Dr. Topp’s prehabilitation program in the Academy Blog after his publication in Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Most recently, Dr. Topp’s colleague, Dr. Ann Swank was the lead author on a paper in the February 2011 issue of Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. The article described the pre-operative outcomes of 71 patients with severe knee arthritis who had pain that didn’t respond to medication. The patients were randomly assigned to either a control group or a 4 to 8 week prehab exercise group prior to total knee replacement surgery.
Patients were tested More >
Case Study: Thera-Band® prehabilitation for total knee replacement effective
Nov 2nd
Thera-Band® exercises for knee osteoarthritis using have been shown in several studies to reduce pain and increase strength and function (Thomas et al. 2002, Topp et al. 2002). Dr. Robert Topp and his colleagues at the University of Louisville have been investigating the role of exercise in knee arthritis patients for several years. Most recently, they have researched the effects of “prehabilitation,” which are exercises performed before total knee replacement surgery. The results of their program have been published in several articles and featured on the Academy blog.
Dr. Topp’s colleague, Dr. Kent Brown recently published a case report on a 69 year old patient who underwent two separate total knee replacement surgeries. Her first surgery on the right knee was preceded with “usual” care (no prehab), while her left knee replacement was preceded by 4 weeks of prehab. The prehab program focused on knee strengthening exercises using Thera-Band resistance bands.
After prehab, the patient had significant improvements in function and strength before and after her left knee surgery compared to her previous non-prehab right knee replacement. The authors suggested at an extended period of prehab (greater than 4 weeks) would have resulted in even more improvement. This case study supports the effectiveness More >
