ASSESSMENT OF PAIN-REDUCTION, FUNCTIONAL ABILITY AND RANGE-OF-MOTION IN KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS PATIENTS AT FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, YOLA – NIGERIA

ASSESSMENT OF PAIN-REDUCTION, FUNCTIONAL ABILITY AND RANGE-OF-MOTION IN KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS PATIENTS AT FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, YOLA – NIGERIA

LawanAbdullahi³, Yahaya Abdullahi^{1, 3*}, Talatu Audu² & Rafiu OlaOluwa Okuneye⁴

¹Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

²Department of Physical and Health Education, Federal College of Education, Zaria

³Human Performance & Fitness Laboratory, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

⁴Department of Human Kinetics, Sports and Health Education, Lagos State University, Ojo

^*Email:abdlawan63@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:

The aim of this paper was to assess the effects of resistance training in the management of knee osteoarthritis among patients at Federal Medical Centre, Yola. Twenty (20) participants undergoing physiotherapy treatment at the physiotherapy department were purposively selected, each participant performed resistance training using resistance machine three (3) times in a week for twelve (12) consecutive weeks. Prior to the training and after the training pain levels were measured using visual analogue scale, functional ability was measured using Western Ontario McMaster University Orthopaedic Index (WOMAC) responses to questionnaire, flexion/extension was determined using goniometry, The data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics and hypothesis was tested using repeated measures one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at significance level of 0.05, through statistical package for the social sciences (IBM SPSS^®) for windows version 21, (SPSS Inc., Chicago IL, USA). Findings of the study showed significant improvement in functional ability, range of motions (ROM) and pain reduction at eight (8) and twelve (12) weeks respectively, using WOMAC, visual analogue scale and goniometry compared to the functional ability, Range of motion (ROM) and pain intensity in four (4) weeks. Based on the findings of this study, it was concluded that resistance training can be used in reducing pain, improving functional ability and ROM in patients with knee osteoarthritis at Federal Medical Centre, Yola. It is therefore recommended that; resistance training can be part of the management modalities, and recommended that hospitals should include resistance training as part of treatment of knee osteoarthritis and Physicians can refer knee osteoarthritis patients to both exercise scientist and physiotherapist for the management of knee osteoarthritis.

Keywords: knee osteoarthritis, resistance training, WOMAC.