A Comparative Study of Isometric Exercises Verses Isotonic Exercises on Pain and Functional Ability among Adults with Osteoarthritis of Knee

Background: Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and extremely prevalent among individuals over forty years of age. It is the leading cause of pain and disability in elder people worldwide. Pain, swelling, decreased range of motion; functional impairment and bony deformity are major clinical features of osteoarthritis. Method: 60 Patients were screened as per inclusion and exclusion criteria with grade 2 - 3 knee osteoarthritis. The patients were assigned into three groups by convenient random sampling method. GROUP A: (n=20): were treated with isometric exercises. GROUP B: (n=20): were treated with isotonic exercises. GROUP C: (n=20): Control group. Hot pack and TENS was common intervention in all the groups. We measured pain and disability of knee at 0 day, 2nd week and 4th week. At the end of 4th week analysis was done using paired and unpaired t-test and significant results were found. Results: Both groups A and B showed statistically significant improvements in within group analysis in terms of pain and functional ability, but there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: The present study concluded that both groups A and B produced similar treatment effects for patients suffering from osteoarthritis of knee. Hence, null hypothesis was accepted and alternate hypothesis was rejected.