Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effects of intraarticular (IA) hyaluronic acid (HA) and intraarticular methyl prednisolone acetate (MPA) in patients with knee osteoarthritis who were also applied physical therapy.

Materials and Methods: Thirty patients with knee osteoarthritis were assigned into intraarticular HA or MPA injection groups. Shortwave diathermy, hotpacks and progressive resistance exercises were applied as the physical therapy program in all the patients for 5 sessions a week, during three weeks. Both HA and MPA were injected once a week, for 3 weeks. WOMAC score, (WOMAC pain, WOMAC stiffness, WOMAC physical function) pain (VAS), Lequesne index, 15 meters walking time, evaluation of climbing the stairs, range of motion (ROM) measurements, and lifting strength of quadriceps were recorded at baseline, andat the and of the first and the third months.

Results: There were statistically significant improvements in all the parameters at the end of the first and the third months in both groups (p<0.001). No significant changes were determined in range of motion measurements (P>0.05). In WOMAC pain score (p<0.05), WOMAC stiffness (p<0.001), WOMAC physical function (p<0.05), pain (VAS) (p<0.05), and evaluations of climbing the stairs (p<0.05), higher improvement scores were determined with MPA treatment than with HA treatment at the end of the first and the third months.

Conclusion: In our study, significant improvements in pain, stiffness and physical functions were observed in patients with knee osteoarthritis with both intraarticular HA and MPA treatments without any side effects.