Abstract

Objective: This study was performed to determine efficiency of hyaluronic acid injections on the pain and lifting mass power of quadriceps muscle in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Materials and Methods: Forty two patients with the diagnosis of bilateral knee osteoarthritis according to the criteria of American Collage of Rheumatology were enrolled in this study. Patients were randomized into two groups. During three weeks, fifteen sessions of physical therapy program- 5 sessions per week- (hot pack, short wave diathermy and progressive resistive exercises for quadriceps muscles) were performed in both groups' patients. Additionally, patients in the first group were also treated with weekly intraarticular injections of hyaluronic acid for three weeks. The need for analgesic drugs during the treatment in both groups' patients was recorded. The pain levels of patients were measured with visual analog scale (VAS). Kellgren-Lawrence Scale was used to evaluate the X-rays. The mass for power lifting of quadriceps muscle was determined by De-Lorme method. Before and after treatment procedures, all patients were evaluated.

Results: In both groups, when compared to the initial records, there were significant improvements with respect to the pain scores and lifting mass power of quadriceps muscle (p<0.001). The increase in mass for power lifting of quadriceps muscle was statistically significant in group 2 (p>0.05). There was no significance between two groups with respect to the pain scores.

Conclusion: Intraarticular hyaluronic acid injections and physical therapy programs are effective treatment methods for the patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. Intraarticular hyaluronic acid injections may not affect to mass for power lifting of quadriceps muscle.