Therapeutic Efficacy of Myofascial Trigger Points Therapy in Patients with Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis (A Randomized Clinical Trial)

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common causes of disability in old age. Myofascial pain and dysfunction is partly responsible for pain and disability in this disease. This study investigated the efficacy of myofascial trigger point therapy in patient with OA of knee. Sixty patients with bilateral knee osteoarthritis were divided into two groups. Thirty patients in each group were received 16 sessions of conventional physical therapy. In addition to physical therapy، intervention group also received myofascial trigger point’s therapy، too. The intensity of pain، physical performance، joint stiffness، physical function and range of motion of the knee joints were assessed in both group. There were no significant differences in assessed variables between two groups. After treatment، the above variables compared with the pre-treatment results in each group and also with the post-treatment results of the other group. Except for physical performance which was not significantly differing in control group، both groups demonstrated improvement in all variables after treatment. Except for joint range of motion، improvement in all variables were better in intervention group than control group. Physical therapy is an effective approach for treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. This effectiveness of physical therapy can be enhanced by adding the treatment of myofascial trigger points for treatment of pain and dysfunction in patient with knee OA.