Ergon Technique Versus PNF Stretching on Hamstring Flexibility in Knee Osteoarthritis
Condition: Knee Osteoarthritis
MeSH terms: Osteoarthritis; Osteoarthritis, Knee
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The study will be a randomized control trial and will be conducted in Pakistan Railway
      Hospital Rawalpindi. A sample of 60 participants will be taken. Patients will be divided into
      two groups (A&B) of 30 participants in each group by sealed envelope method. Hot pack will be
      applied to both groups for 15 minutes at the start of intervention. ERGON Technique(IASTM)
      will be applied to group A along with strengthening exercise. Proprioceptive Neuromuscular
      Facilitation (PNF) stretching will be given to group B along with strengthening exercise. A
      35 minute session will be given to the patients and 3 sessions will be given once a week.
      Intervention will be given for 6 weeks. The outcome measure will be Visual analog Scale
      (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), and Active Knee
      Extension Test (AKE) will be measured at baseline and at the end of 6th week. Data will be
      analyzed by SPSS 22.
    


Intervention name(s): ERGON Technique; Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) stretching
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): Hot pack for 15 minutes.
Patient position: Prone with knee flexion approximately 45◦.
Position of therapist: Standing at the affected side of patient.
Technique:Massage cream will be applied on the hamstring and overactive or short muscle fibres that are restricted.The instrument will be applied parallel to the muscle fibers, both in a distal to proximal and them proximal to distal direction as needed.Then gentle massage stroking from the origin to the insertion will be performed using the instrument. Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization(IASTM) will be applied for 5 minutes.
Strengthening exercises for quadriceps and hamstring will then be performed.
Isometrics exercises of Quadriceps: By placing a towel roll below the knee and press and hold for 20 seconds, 5 sets.
Isometrics exercises Hamstrings: By placing a towel roll below the knee and press and hold for 20 seconds, 5 sets.
Wall sits: For 10 seconds, 5 sets.; The patient will be laid down prone and moist heat will be given for 15 minutes prior to stretching the hamstrings.
Then patient will be lying supine with hip in 90⁰ of flexion. Patient's knee will be extended until a very mild stretching sensation is felt in hamstring muscles.
Then patient will be asked to flex the knee against the resistance applied by hand of therapist.
The patient will be asked to use a force of around 50% of maximal strength and an isometric form of contraction will be gained in the hamstring muscles. The patient will hold the contraction for 8 seconds and then the therapist command to relax the hamstring muscle.
Immediately after the muscle relaxation the therapist further stretches the hamstring muscles up to a point where the subject reported a mild to moderate stretching sensation without any pain and will be held for 30 seconds.
The procedure will be repeated 3 times in every session.
Strengthening Exercises:
Same as ERGON Group
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: knee osteoarthritis; Ergon Technique; Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation stretching; Active Knee Extension Test; Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index; Visual Analogue Scale