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The effectiveness of manual therapy in addition to passive stretching exercises in the treatment of patients with haemophilic knee arthropathy: A randomized, single‐blind clinical trial
Author(s) -
CuestaBarriuso Rubén,
GómezConesa Antonia,
LópezPina José Antonio
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
haemophilia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.213
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1365-2516
pISSN - 1351-8216
DOI - 10.1111/hae.14181
Subject(s) - medicine , hemarthrosis , haemophilia , range of motion , physical therapy , arthropathy , knee joint , passive stretching , randomized controlled trial , surgery , physical medicine and rehabilitation , osteoarthritis , alternative medicine , pathology
Background Haemophilic arthropathy is characterized by joint restrictions. One of the most affected joints in haemophilia patients is the knee. Aim This study evaluates the effectiveness of manual therapy and passive muscle stretching exercises for reducing the frequency of hemarthrosis and pain and improving joint health and range of motion in patients with haemophilic knee arthropathy. Methods Twenty eight patients with haemophilic knee arthropathy were randomized to an experimental group or to a control group (without intervention). Manual therapy sessions included joint traction and gliding manoeuvers, in addition to passive muscle stretching. The intervention included one 60‐minute with two weekly sessions over a 12‐week period. We evaluated the frequency of knee hemarthrosis (self‐reporting), joint health (Hemophilia Joint Health Score), range of motion (goniometry) and perceived knee pain (visual analogue scale). A baseline evaluation was performed at the end of the intervention and after a 12‐week follow‐up period. Results The frequency of hemarthrosis dropped significantly in the experimental group compared to the control group (F = 11.43; P < .001). Compared to the control group, the experimental group had consistently better results in the variables for joint health (F = 13.80; P < .001), range of motion in knee flexion (F = 24.29; P < .001) and loss of extension (F = 8.90; P < .001), and perceived pain (F = 49.73; P < .001). Conclusions Manual therapy using joint traction and gliding manoeuvers, in addition to passive muscle stretching, reduces the frequency of hemarthrosis in patients with haemophilia. Manual therapy with passive muscle stretching exercises improves joint health, range of motion and perceived joint pain.