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RHPA Scientific Posters
Author(s) -
Verity Pacey,
Louise Tofts,
Roger Adams,
Leslie L. Nicholson,
Craig Munns
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
internal medicine journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 1444-0903
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-5994.2012.02762.x
Subject(s) - medicine , citation , health professionals , library science , family medicine , health care , computer science , economics , economic growth
Aim: 1. To determine if a supervised physiotherapy exercise programme focused on improving strength and control of knee joint motion is more effective than no treatment in reducing knee pain of children with Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (JHS). 2. To determine if exercises performed into the hypermobile range, compared to those performed only to neutral, are more effective when managing this condition. Methods: A prospective, randomised controlled trial compared an eight week exercise programme performed into the hypermobile range, to one performed only to neutral knee extension, following a monitored baseline period of no treatment. Child-reported, parent-reported and objective measures of knee pain, health-related quality of life, quadriceps and hamstrings muscle strength, and ability to ascend and descend stairs were measured (i) at initial assessment (ii) following the baseline period prior to commencing treatment and (iii) post treatment. Results: Twenty nine children with JHS and knee pain, aged 7–16 years, were randomly assigned to either treatment group after the baseline period. Significant improvements were found following the treatment period, regardless of treatment group allocation (p < 0.05) with a mean 14.5 mm reduction in maximal knee pain on the 100 mm visual analogue scale (95% CI 5.2–23.8 mm, p = 0.003). Significant differences were noted between the treatment groups for parent-reported self-esteem (p = 0.034), mental health (p = 0.001) and behaviour (p = 0.019), in favour of exercises performed into the hypermobile range. No other differences were found between treatment groups. Conclusions: A supervised physiotherapy exercise programme is significantly more effective than no treatment at all in reducing pain, improving health-related quality of life, increasing muscle strength and improving function, in children with JHS and knee pain. When performed into the hypermobile range rather than only in 'normal' joint range, these exercises were significantly more effective at improving self-esteem, mental health and behaviour, as measured by parent report.1 page(s