Investigation of the Effectiveness of Wii-Based Exercise Play Therapy in Knee Osteoarthritis Rehabilitation

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a slowly progressive, chronic and degenerative joint disease frequently seen in the knee and hip joints. OA is not only involved in degenerative changes of cartilage, but can also be a result of capsular hypertrophy, osteophytes, subchondral bone sclerosis, ulcerations, fibrillations. It progressively impairs the patient's independence, mobility and participation in social life, thus reducing the overall quality of life. Edema, stiffness, instability, decreased muscle strength, impaired range of motion and proprioceptive sensation, increased incidence of falls are seen together with the main symptom of pain. In OA, treatment options are available to manage symptoms and optimize quality of life. In clinical guidelines, evidence-based treatment for Osteoarthritis may include patient education and self-management programs that integrate weight management, structured exercise, and physical activity. Closed kinetic chain exercises have gained importance in the rehabilitation of many musculoskeletal problems in the last 20 years and have become one of the most preferred exercises. In addition, the virtual reality treatment approach, which is the most common example of technology use in rehabilitation, has also started to take place in rehabilitation studies. The aim of this project is to investigate the effects of Wii-based video-based exercise game therapy on muscle strength, proprioception, postural control and functional level in knee osteoarthritis rehabilitation.

Method: 56 volunteers diagnosed with bilateral knee OA, who underwent routine electrotherapy and conventional exercise program in the laboratory of Istanbul Rumeli University and were directed to exercise according to the inclusion criteria, will be included in the study. Patients with knee pain due to OA for at least 6 months, diagnosed with primary OA according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology, Stage 2-3 knee OA according to the Kellgren-Lawrence classification, aged 55-65, without any neurological disease Individuals who volunteered to participate and had a Mini Mental State Scale score ≥23 will be included. Diagnosed with secondary OA, Operated on the knee, hip and/or spine, Severe knee trauma or physical therapy for the knee in the last year, Presence of neurological disease that may affect balance and proprioception, Vertigo, hearing and vision problems, Genu varum and Genu valgum and Individuals with scoliosis, Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥40 kg/m2 and Visual analog scale ≥8/10 will be excluded from the study. Pain with Visual Analog Scale, pain threshold with algometer, range of motion with goniometer, muscle strength with dynamometer, functional level with Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index and Lequesne knee index, postural control with Berg balance scale, functional performance with timed get up and go test, 10 meters walking test and 10 steps climbing test, and proprioception with digital goniometer will be evaluated for all participants before and after treatment and at the 8th week of treatment. All individuals participating in the study will be randomly divided into 2 groups. All individuals participating in the study will receive 15 sessions of electrotherapy and conventional exercise program, 5 days a week for 3 weeks. In the first group, besides electrotherapy and conventional exercise program applications, structured proprioception and closed kinetic chain exercises will be applied for 3 weeks under the supervision of a physiotherapist. A rest period of 10 seconds will be given between exercises. The second group will be given a wii-based balance training program for 3 weeks, 5 days a week, in addition to the electrotherapy and conventional exercise program. It was aimed to find an effective treatment method in individuals with knee osteoarthritis by comparing the groups at the end of the treatment and at the 8th week.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with knee pain due to OA for at least 6 months,
• diagnosed with primary OA according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology,
• Stage 2-3 knee OA according to the Kellgren-Lawrence classification,
• aged 55-65,
• without any neurological disease
• Individuals who volunteered to participate
• Patients with a Mini Mental State Scale score ≥23

Exclusion criteria

• Diagnosed with secondary OA,
• Patients who have undergone surgery to the knee, hip and/or spine,
• Severe knee trauma
• Have had physical therapy for the knee in the past year
• Presence of neurological disease that may affect balance and proprioception,
• Vertigo, hearing and vision problems,
• Genu varum and Genu valgum and Individuals with scoliosis,
• Patients with a body Mass Index (BMI) ≥40 kg/m2
• Patients with a visual analog scale ≥8/10