Comparison of Effects of Non-surgical Continuous and Intermittent Traction on Pain, Balance and Physical Function in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis

ABSTRACT

Purpose@#This study examined the comparison of effects of non-surgical continuous and intermittent traction on pain, balance and physical function in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. @*Methods@#A total of 30 knee osteoarthritis patients were recruited and randomized to a continuous traction group (n=10), an intermittent traction group (n=10), and a control group (n=10). The continuous traction group and intermittent traction group received a non-surgical continuous and intermittent knee joint traction workout five times a week, for 4 weeks. All subjects were assessed with the numeric rating scale (NRS), timed up and go test (TUGT), and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) before and after the 4-week treatment. @*Results@#As a result of comparison within groups, the continuous traction group, intermittent traction group, and control group showed a significant difference for NRS, TUGT, and WOMAC after the experiment (p<0.05). According to the comparison of the three groups, the continuous traction group showed a more effectively significant difference than the intermittent traction group and the control group in the balance and physical functions before and after the experiment (p<0.05). @*Conclusion@#This study showed that non-surgical continuous traction treatment was effective in improving pain, balance ability, and physical function in knee osteoarthritis patients.