Effects Of Technique Of Sling Tuina Exercise On Proprioception And Motor Function In Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of technique of sling Tuina exercise on proprioception and motor function in patients with knee osteoarthritis(KOA),and to provide evidence for the improvement of proprioception and motor function in patients with KOA;to analyze and discuss the effects of technique of sling Tuina exercise on motor function of patients with KOA by acting on proprioception,and to provide evidence for the application of this technique.Theoretical support of proprioception.METHODS: Sixty-two patients with knee osteoarthritis from Rehabilitation Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were divided into a test group and a control group by the random number table method,with 31 patients in each group,and one case in each test group and control group.Patients in both groups underwent basic and conventional rehabilitation treatment,including health education and self-management,weight control,physical factor therapy,and exercise therapy.In the experimental group,on the basis of the control group,the therapeutic intervention was carried out by using technique of sling Tuina exercise,including locating the meridians where the weak links were located,suspension and Tuina treatment,and suspension exercise training,once for 30 min,once/day,5 times/week,for 4 weeks.The Western Ontario and Mcmaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(WOMAC),isometric muscle strength testing system,and the Timed Up and Go Test(TUGT)were used before and after 4 weeks of intervention,respectively.The WOMAC,isometric strength testing system,and TUGT were used to evaluate the knee symptoms,function,proprioception,peak torque(PT),and functional mobility of KOA patients,and the clinical efficacy was observed using the WOMAC score reduction rate.RESULTS: The baseline data,pre-intervention WOMAC scale scores,active angle repositioning(AAR),threshold to detect passive motion(TDPM),flexor PT,extensor PT,and TUGT of the two groups were compared.The differences were not statistically significant when comparing the time spent on TUGT(P<0.05).After treatment,there were statistically significant differences in the WOMAC scale scores,position awareness AAR,kinesthetic TDPM,flexor PT,extensor PT,and TUGT time between the two groups(P<0.01),and the time spent on WOMAC scale scores,position awareness AAR,kinesthetic TDPM,flexor PT,extensor PT,and TUGT in the test group was statistically significant compared with that in the control group.The differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).The difference in clinical efficacy between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.01).CONCLUSION: 1.Technique of sling Tuina exercise can relieve the symptoms of KOA patients,improve proprioception and muscle strength,and improve joint function and functional mobility,with remarkable clinical effect;2.Based on the regulatory role of proprioception on motor control,it is hypothesized that technique of sling Tuina exercise can influence the motor functions of KOA patients by improving their proprioception.