Subjective pain and physical fitness in female osteoarthritis patients treated with magnetotherapy and kinesitherapy

Anna Straburzyńska-Lupa, Wojciech Romanowski, Agnieszka Romanowska, Zbigniew Świetlik

Anna Straburzyńska-Lupa, Wojciech Romanowski, Agnieszka Romanowska, Zbigniew Świetlik – Subjective pain and physical fitness in female osteoarthritis patients treated with magnetotherapy and kinesitherapy. Fizjoterapia Polska 2004; 4(2); 151-156

Abstract

Background. Osteoarthritis is one of the leasing causes of disability, as it occurs in over 10% of the adult population. To date there is no effective treatment modifying the course of this disease. There is experimental evidence, however, that under the influence of an electromagnetic field there is repair of cartilage and bone tissue, reduction of pain and inflammation, and healing of ligaments and tendons, which leads to improved mobility and function in the affected joints.Material and methods. We studied 29 women with idiopathic osteoarthritis of the knee and lumbar spine, with an average age of 63,4 +/- 10,4 years, treated twice a day for two weeks with a pulsating low-frequency magnetic field (5 mT, 25 Hz, 12 min) and kinesitherapy. The patients were examined before and after therapy, using the WOMAC questionnaire to measure the subjective evaluation of pain, stiffness, and difficulty in performing activities of daily living (ADL).Results. After treatment with a pulsating magnetic field and kinesitherapy, there was a statistically significant reduction in pain complaints, and a reduction of difficulties in certain ADL. There was statistically significant improvement as assessed by both the patients and the physicians.Conclusions. Our results indicate that magnetotherapy and kinesitherapy hale a positive impact on reducing pain and disability in patients with osteoarthritis.

Key words:
extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF), physicotherapy
Invalid download ID. Pobierz bezpłatnie artykuł w j. angielskim