Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is associated with pain and lower-limb muscle weakness. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) may reduce symptoms, but functional recovery may depend on concurrent exercise. Aims: To evaluate changes in pain and knee/hip muscle strength after a single intra-articular PRP injection combined with a 6-week home exercise programme in women with knee OA. In this single-group longitudinal study, 27 women (mean age 57.5±7.3 years) performed home exercises three times weekly for 6 weeks after unilateral PRP injection. Outcomes were assessed at baseline (5 days post-injection), week 6, and week 12: hip stability isometric strength using the Hip Stability Isometric Test (HipSIT), quadriceps and hamstring strength (hand-held dynamometry; N/kg), and activity pain using a visual analog scale (VAS, 0–10). Repeated-measures ANOVA was used. On the affected side, The Hip Stability Isometric Test (HipSIT) increased from 2.68±1.19 to 3.15±1.13 at week 6 and 3.25±1.19 at week 12 (p=0.006). Quadriceps strength increased from 2.57±0.91 to 2.95±0.98 and 2.88±1.07 (p=0.001), and hamstring strength from 1.43±0.56 to 1.67±0.59 and 1.69±0.56 (p=0.011). Activity pain decreased from 7.27±2.10 to 4.48±2.42 and 4.22±2.93 (p=0.001). A single PRP injection followed by a short home exercise programme was associated with reduced pain and improved hip stability and knee muscle strength up to 12 weeks in women with knee OA.
Beydagi et al. (Tue,) studied this question.