Mobilization Effect on Hamstring Length

December 16, 2020 updated by: Riphah International University

Effect of Knee Joint Mobilization on Hamstring Muscle Length

The aim of this research is to determine the effect of knee joint mobilization in patients with knee osteoarthritis having hamstring tightness. Tibiofemoral and tibiofibular joint mobilization and knee traction effect on hamstring muscle length and pain. A randomized controlled trial will be done at Benazir Bhutto Hospital Rawalpindi. The sample size is 44. The Participants are divided into two groups, 22 participants in experimental group and 22 in control group. The study duration is 6 months. Sampling technique applied is purposive non probability sampling technique, patients having Minimum 20% hamstring length shorting, NPRS more than 3,both gender of age 40-65,Pain more than 3 months and with mild to moderate knee OA are included. Tools used in this study are Numerical pain rating scale (NPRS), Goniometer and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) scale. Data analyzed through Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS)version 23.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

Knee Osteoarthritis is a type of joint disease or common rheumatologic disease that result from breakdown of joint cartilage and underlying bone which is characterized by pain, stiffness, and decreased range of motion. Knee OA is more important not only for its high prevalence rate compared with other types of OA but also for its presentation at earlier age groups particularly in younger age groups of obese women. Symptoms of knee OA progress slowly over years. The incidence of knee OA increases by age and further increase with longer lifetime and higher average weight of the population.

Symptoms of knee OA progress slowly over years. Pain and other symptoms of OA may have a profound effect on quality of life affecting both physical function and psychological parameters. Knee OA is not a localized disease of cartilage alone but is considered as a chronic disease of the whole joint, including articular cartilage, meniscus, ligament, and peri-articular muscle that may result from multiple pathophysiological mechanisms. It is painful and disabling disease that affects millions of patients.

Common symptoms are progressive knee stiffness, pain, difficulties in performing activities such as walking, stair climbing, squatting. Reduction in functional capacity associated with muscular imbalance of lower extremity with pain. Muscles act as brace for knee joint, quadriceps muscle weakness and hamstring inhibition effect this bracing. Muscle dysfunction may actually precede and accelerate the cartilage deterioration. Evidence showed muscle dysfunction is involved in pathogenesis of knee OA. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent joint disease and a leading source of chronic pain and disability in the United States. Knee OA accounts for more than 80% of the disease's total burden and affects at least 19% of American adults aged 45 years and older.

Clinical strategies exist for treatment of knee osteoarthritis with aim to reduce symptoms like pain, delay disease progression i.e. pharmacological, physiotherapy and surgical strategies. Patients experience chronic pain that cause reduction in ability to use their joint. Due to prolong inactivity of joint to move through complete range cause muscle shortness along with capsule tightness that leads for further increasing pain and disability. Physical therapy interventions are first line of choice for the treatment of knee OA. Treatment varieties i.e. modalities, therapeutic exercises, manual therapy along with neuromuscular training to improve mechanical environment of knee joint

It is indicated at least 15-30 degree loss of active knee extension with 90 degree of hip flexion account as hamstring shortening. Hamstring muscle tightness and poor flexibility is associated with knee OA. Hamstring flexibility is higher in healthy individual as compared to subjects with knee OA.A statistically significant relationship was found between hamstring tightness and proximal tibiofibular joint grade of arthritis (χ2 test, p=0.004) Recent study reported 97.6% of middle aged men with hamstring muscle tightness Hamstring flexibility is greater in females than males. Research showed that ischio-tibial flexibility reduce pain stiffness and significant functional limitation in knee OA. Joint mobilizations are most widely used in treatment of knee OA having various neuro-physiological effects including decrease in pain, stiffness, activation and inhibition of muscles.The muscular system reflects sensorimotor system it receives information from musculoskeletal and central nervous systems. Changes occur in tone within the muscle are the first responses to nociception by the sensorimotor system. Many studies reported effect of joint pathology on muscle tone for example the presence of knee effusion causes reflex inhibition of the vastus-medialis and multifidus has been shown to atrophy in patients with chronic low back pain. In this study we aim to increase hamstring muscle length through activation of mechanoreceptors by mobilizations.

There is no study conducted yet to determine effect of joint mobilization on adjacent muscle length other than soft tissue techniques which are mainly stretches.

Literature review: randomized control trail (2019) conducted for comparing effectiveness on Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation(PNF) stretching verses static stretching on hamstring flexibility in knee OA patients showed PNF stretching was better in outcome measures

A study compared static verses intermittent stretching for increase of hamstring muscle length concluded that intermittent stretching is more effective for hamstring flexibility.

A pre-post study (2019) find out effect of unilateral posteroanterior mobilization(UPA) on lumbar spine observed in his study that UPA lumbar mobilizations increased lumbar Range of Motion and hamstring extensibility by a moderate magnitude and this effect remained for 10-15 minutes post treatment.

Study reported Joint manipulations reduce nociceptor stimulus, depress responsiveness of alpha motor neurons causing changes in muscle tone.

Study on active stretching and passive mobilization of cervical spine for neck pain concluded there was increase range of motion in both groups.

comparing Muscle Energy Technique(MET) with conventional treatment for hamstring flexibility in knee OA patients reported that MET was better than conventional treatment.

A randomized control trail(2014)compared immediate effects of neurodynamics slider technique verses static stretch concluded neurodynamics slider technique is more effective for improving hamstring flexibility.

Therapeutic effect of joint mobilization that joint mobilization may promote muscles relaxation thereby increasing joint range of motion

Joint mobilization and traction allows for selective stretching of selected tissue and can be expected to change both elastic and plastic component of stiffness. The intermittent compression and distraction of joint distribute fluid into soft tissue decreasing spasm allowing for easier movement and increase range of motion.

Joint mobilization cause stimulation of Golgi tendon organ activity, and reflex inhibition of the muscle at the end of the passive joint mobilization.

A study concluded that joint mobilization decreases muscle activity, reducing muscle concentric activation, pain, and muscle tension in periarticular-tissue

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

44

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Punjab
      • Islamabad, Punjab, Pakistan, 44000
        • Riphah International University Islamabad

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

40 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Minimum 20% length shorting
  • NPRS more than 3
  • Gender include male and female
  • Age 40-65
  • Pain more than 3 months.
  • Patients with mild to moderate knee OA (primary and secondary) grade 1and 2 Kellgren and Lawrence classification system based on plain x-rays taken in supine lying position. They should satisfy the American College of Rheumatology Criteria for clinical classification of knee OA.

Hamstring shortness screening criteria: following tests should be positive for participants to enroll in this study

  • Active knee extension test
  • 90-90 test
  • Sit and reach test

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Co morbidities (i.e. Systematic diseases)
  • Patient on long-term Medications i.e. corticosteroid
  • Patient with Spinal Surgery
  • Recent trauma
  • Hamstring contracture.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: knee joint mobilization and traction
Tibiofemoral, Tibiofibular joint anterioposterior mobilization, keltonborn knee traction Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(TENS) and quadriceps strengthening

Grade 3 traction (Kaltenborn)from knee fully flexed to end of available Range of motion(ROM). Traction 30 sec, 10 sec rest period, 4reps, total 2 min of traction.3 sets for a total of 6 min of traction mobilization.Grade3 keltonborn tibiofemoral and tibiofibular anterior, posterior mobilization 3 sets10glides/set, 3 times/week on alternative days for 4 weeks.

TENS for 20 mins in sitting and strengthening exercises i.e. Quadriceps Setting10 reps, air Cycling 2 min for a bout, straight leg raise (SLR) with weight , Full arc extension 10 reps of each exercise will be carried per session except for full-arc extension and air cycling. Air cycling cont. for 2 min for 1 bout of exercise. Measurement will be taken at base level, after first and last session. Treatment will be given for 3 times/week on alternative days for 4 weeks

Active Comparator: Post isometric relaxation
Post isometric relaxation on hamstring, TENS and quadriceps strengthening.

Control group include Post isometric relaxation technique on hamstring muscle will be performed in supine lying, hip flexed to 90 degrees knee extended until the point of resistance 20% of maximum effort will be used by patient to create isometric contraction. Patient will be asked to breathe in and hold for 5 to 8 seconds and release both breath and effort then move to new barrier point and process was repeated three times per session

TENS and strengthening exercises as mentioned above.

This treatment regime will be given for 3 times/week on alternative days for 4 weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Hamstring length: (Active Knee Extension Test)
Time Frame: 12th day
Changes from the baseline to 12th day, this test is for to check hamstring flexibility, Patient position is in supine and effected leg is in 90 degree hip flexion. Patient is asked to extend the knee. Cutoff value for the Active knee extension test is 160.Normal individual presents with>160 or equal to160 (=160) and angle <160 considered hamstring tightness.
12th day

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Numeric Pain rating scale (NPRS)
Time Frame: 12th day
Changes from base Line Numeric Pain rating scale is a scale for pain starting from 0-10. where 0 indicate no pain and 10 indicate severe pain
12th day
WOMAC Scale
Time Frame: 12th day
Changes from baseline WOMAC scale, it's a scale to evaluate the condition of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, consisting of 24 items divided into 3 subscales including pain (5 items), stiffness (2 items), and physical functioning (17 items) of the joints.There are 5 responses to each question having a score assigned to it like None=0,slight=1,moderate=2,severe=3,extreme=4.scoring of this scale is done by sum up of all the points,minimum possible score is 0 while maximum possible score is 96.Higher number represents higher levels of disability.
12th day

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Saira Waqqar, PPDPT,MHPE, Riphah international universty

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

January 1, 2020

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 15, 2020

Study Completion (Actual)

December 15, 2020

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 19, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 2, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

October 5, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

December 17, 2020

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 16, 2020

Last Verified

December 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • REC/00688 Fareeha Sherazi

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

No

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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