Therapeutic Ultrasound - Effective for Knee Osteoarthritis?

Researchers evaluated the short-term effectiveness of therapeutic ultrasound for knee osteoarthritis. They assessed pain, physical function, walking, disability, and psychological status of knee osteoarthritis patients.

There were 42 knee osteoarthritis patients randomly assigned to receive therapeutic ultrasound or sham ultrasound. The patients also were treated with hot packs, interferential current, and isometric quadricep exercise. Both groups were treated 5 times a week for 3 weeks. According to study results published in the April 2012 issue of the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases, patients in both the therapeutic ultrasound group and the sham group had significant improvement in pain, stiffness, physical function, walking, disability, depression and anxiety. While ultrasound was found to be safe, it did not seem to offer additional benefit to knee osteoarthritis patients already receiving conventional physical therapy.

Related Articles:

• Knee Osteoarthritis - What You Need to Know
• What Is Physical Function?
• Osteoarthritis and Depression
• Physical Therapy Can Be First Line of Defense Against Knee Osteoarthritis

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