Effectiveness of a protocol to associated exercises phototherapy in pain, quality of life and women with muscle strength of knee osteoarthritis

• Grant number: 16/13898-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): February 01, 2017
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Ana Claudia Muniz Renno
• Grantee: Mayra Cavenague de Souza
• Host Institution: Instituto de Saúde e Sociedade (ISS). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Baixada Santista. Santos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative chronic disease that most commonly affects the knee joint. About 25% of those aged over 65 years suffer from pain and disability resulting from this disease. Furthermore, women report greater pain symptoms and lower quality of life compared to men. The resistance exercise has been proven effective in reducing pain and improvement in quality of life. Furthermore, phototherapy stands as a non-pharmacological means capable of promoting anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of physical exercise associated with phototherapy in improvement in pain condition, quality of life and muscular strength of women with knee OA. For this, 20 women between 55 and 70 years, will be randomized between groups: Exercise and Laser Active Group (ELAG, n = 10), which will treat through exercise protocol associated with laser irradiation active and Exercise and Laser Placebo Group (ELPG, n = 10), which will treat through exercise protocol associated with placebo laser irradiation. Interventions will be performed twice a week for an eight week period. The exercise program will include a heating mat, strengthening and stretching the major muscle groups of the lower limbs. For evaluation and re-evaluation of both groups, questionnaires will be applied as the Western Ontario and Mac Master Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Lequesne, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain and evaluation of the strength of the lower limbs with load cell. For data analysis, the data distribution will be evaluated to choose the appropriate statistical tests. (AU)