Diz Osteoartriti Olan Hastalarda Sanal Gerçeklik Uygulaması ve Kinezyolojik Bantlamanın Propriosepsiyon Üzerinde Etkinliği ve Kıyaslaması

Abstract

Proprioceptive deficits in knee osteoarthritis have been documented in several studies. The methods to enhance knee proprioception, can help prevent falls in this group of patients. The aim of this study, was to establish the efficacy of kinesiotaping, and video game based virtual reality application, in the treatment of proprioceptive deficits in knee osteoarthritis. 40 patients, aged 50-75 years old, diagnosed as having right knee, or bilateral knee osteoarthritis, were enrolled in the current study. All patients were classified as garde 2 or 3 according to Kellgren-Lawrence radiologic grading scale. The patients were randomly assigned to three groups. The first group, as the virtual reality application group, were instructed to play a simple video game, by knee movements, for 15-20 minutes everyday, apart from standard physical therapy program. They could control a rocket to beat a ball on computer screen, moving their knees. The second group, enrolled in a program of knee kinesiotaping , along with standard physical therapy program. The third group, as the control group, received superficial and deep heating application, and knee exercises, as a standard physical therapy program. The patients were assessed before and after the treatment, using VAS pain score, WOMAC osteoarthritis index, and right knee proprioception measurement by knee joint angle reproduction test. The results showed that VAS pain score, and WOMAC osteoathritis index values, significantly decreased in all groups, and kinesiotaping caused the most dramatic changes in pain. Although proprioception measurements showed mild improvement at 15 degrees of knee flexion among the patients in the second and third groups, the most significant changes of proprioception were detected in the first group. According to these findings, analgesic effects of kinesiotaping, and the effects of virtual reality training on proprioception, reveal the efficacy of these treatment options in knee osteoarthritis, along with standard physical therapy programs, specially in the elderly population.