The effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on joint position sense in patients with knee joint osteoarthritis

Abstract

Objective: To study the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on joint position sense (JPS) in knee osteoarthritis (OA) subjects. Methods: Thirty subjects with knee OA (40–60 years old) using non-random sampling participated in this study. In order to evaluate the absolute error of repositioning of the knee joint, Qualysis Track Manager system was used and sensory electrical stimulation was applied through the TENS device. Results: The mean errors in repositioning of the joint, in two position of the knee joint with 20 and 60 degree angle, after applying the TENS was significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Application of TENS in subjects with knee OA could improve JPS in these subjects.

• Knee osteoarthritis
• joint position sense
• transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the subjects who participated in the study and also Dr. Nasrin Shokrpour at the Center for Development of Clinical Research of Nemazee Hospital for editorial assistance. This study is extracted from the proposal number 5683 and R. Shafaei’s MSc Thesis.