Effectiveness of home-based physiotherapy on pain and disability in participants with osteoarthritis of knee: an observational study.
Gaurav Shori, Gagan Kapoor, Prativa Talukdar
PMID 30349155WHAT IT FOUND
Pain and disability scores improved after home-based physiotherapy combining TENS, ultrasound, exercise, and manual therapy in 139 adults with knee osteoarthritis.
With no comparison group, the study cannot show these components caused improvement.
Key findings
01All measured pain and disability outcomes showed statistically significant improvement, with mean VAS pain going from 5.8 cm to 2.7 cm and total WOMAC improving by 43%.
02The paper reports average pain and disability reductions of 3.1 cm and 43%, which it states are greater than previously documented minimum clinically important difference thresholds.
03No statistically significant differences were observed between males and females in VAS or WOMAC scores.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study had no control group, so the before-and-after improvement cannot be attributed to the treatment. All participants received several treatments together, including TENS, ultrasound, manual therapy, stretching, and strengthening, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated. The paper does not report how many participants dropped out or completed the service. The authors were employees of HealthCare atHome, the company that provided the service and patient care system. Height, weight, and body mass index were not obtained. Long-term outcomes were not tracked. The study used one home-care service in one setting, so results may not apply to other providers or patient groups.
Declared interests
Gaurav Shori, Gagan Kapoor, and Prativa Talukdar are listed as employees of HealthCare atHome India Pvt. Ltd., the company that provided the home physiotherapy service and patient care system. The paper does not state external funding.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the improvement as proof that home-based physiotherapy caused less pain and disability. The study had no comparison group, and participants received TENS, ultrasound, manual therapy, stretching, and strengthening together, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated.