Modulating perception of pain using multijoint coupling dynamic technique versus conventional therapy in early knee osteoarthritis

The pain in early knee osteoarthritis reflexively inhibits the muscle activation and is detrimental to either the motor or the sensory components of muscle function promoting adaptive compensatory strategies. This study aimed at determining the effectiveness of Multi-Joint Coupling Dynamic (MJCD) technique for modulating pain status in early knee osteoarthritis. The study included 80 subjects with a diagnosis of early knee osteoarthritis and their baseline evaluation was done for pain (using VAS & WOMAC). The subjects were assigned to two intervention groups (i.e. group A and group B) using random allocation method (by treatment allocation concealment). In Group A, MJCD technique and in Group B, conventional treatment technique was used for a period of 8 weeks followed by re-evaluation. Between-group analysis was done using student t test. Mean pain score on VAS for left & right knee and WOMAC were 2.1 ± 1.4, 2.1 ± 1.3 & 2.4 ± 1.3 for MJCD group and 4.2 ± 1.8, 4.6 ± 1.7 & 5.6 ± 2.2 for conventional treatment group respectively after 8 weeks of intervention and the p value was found to be highly significant in MJCD group (p < 0.001) for pain. MJCD technique is more effective than conventional technique for modulating pain in early knee osteoarthritis.