Effects of a therapeutic exercises program associated with pompage technique on pain, balance and strength in elderly women with knee osteoarthritis

Introduction: Knee Osteoarthritis (OA) affects mainly elderly, being characterized by arthralgia, stiffness and strength and balance deficits. Scientific evidence suggests beneficial effects of exercise therapy on these changes, but lacks detailed protocols. In addition, there were published studies on effects of therapeutic exercise associated with pompage that were not located. Objective: To investigate the effects of a therapeutic exercise program associated with pompage on pain, balance and muscle strength in elderly women with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: A randomized pilot clinical trial that included 22 women (60 80 years) diagnosed with knee OA, randomized and allocated by simple raffle into two groups: intervention and control. Intervention group (strengthening and balance exercises and knee pompage) performed two sessions per week for 12 weeks. The control group received educational lectures, they were evaluated before and after * ITGOG: Doctoral student, e-mail: ihanafisio@hotmail.com ABCT: undergrad, e-mail amanda.bruto@hotmail.com ATBL: undergrad, e-mail: amandatelino@hotmail.com DQKF: undergrad, e-mail: daniellekuhni@gmail.com MCC: MS, e-mail: moisescouto@gmail.com MACP: PhD, e-mail: macpedrosa@yahoo.com.br Gondim ITGO, Torres ABC, Lacerda ATB, Fernandes DQK, Couto MC, Pedrosa MAC. 12 Fisioter Mov. 2017;30(Suppl 1):S11-21 12 weeks: arthralgiasubscale pain of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index questionnaire (WOMAC); postural stabilitypostural balance protocol by Biodex Balance SD and muscle strengthconcentric peak torque of the knee extensor by isokinetic dynamometer. The Independent Student t test was used for intergroup analysis. Results: The intervention group compared with the control showed better results for the outcomes pain, balance and muscle strength after 12 weeks. However, the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05) for levels of antero-posterior oscillation (DM -0.28, 95% CI -0.54 a -0.02; p = 0.035) and global oscillation (DM -0.36, 95% CI -0.68 a -0.04; p = 0.028). Conclusion: The intervention had a positive effect on postural balance in elderly women with knee osteoarthritis.


Introduction
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a condition due to cartilaginous degeneration and remodeling of the subchondral bone, being more common in women from 50 years of age (1,2). When it affects the knee joint, it is characterized by stiffness, muscle weakness and arthralgia (3,4).
Pain is a common symptom and, when severe and associated with movement, may lead to greater functional dependence (5). It can also alter the detection of information regarding position and joint movement, resulting in proprioceptive imprecision, with consequent alteration of postural control (6,7). A greater oscillation in the pressure center is observed in elderly women with knee OA, implying an increased risk of falls (8,9). This is because the proprioceptive deficit changes the control of the postural oscillation performed by the muscles, generating functional instability (9).
At the same time, knee OA is associated with sarcopenia (10, 11). This association causes changes in muscle properties, exacerbates failure of voluntary quadriceps muscle activation, and induces edema formation, synovial thickening, and atrophy of type II muscle fibers (12 -15).
Conservative treatment should be multidisciplinary and seek functional, mechanical and clinical improvement. To achieve these effects, physiotherapy uses therapeutic exercises of flexibility, balance, proprioception and strengthening (9,16), in addition to manual therapies such as knee pompage.
The knee pompage is performed in the direction of articular decompression, which can combat stiffness and cartilaginous degeneration, delaying the evolution of OA. The maneuver used in clinical practice aims at reestablishing the hydric balance of cartilage and allowing functional recovery (17). Despite this, the effects of the association of pompage to a program of therapeutic exercises in knee OA are still unclear.
In this sense, the study intends to investigate the effects of a program of therapeutic exercises associated with the pompage technique on pain, balance and muscular strength in a group of elderly women with knee OA, suggesting a positive influence on these outcomes.

Methods
Randomized pilot clinical trial with blinding for the evaluator, that evaluating elderly women with diagnosis of knee OA recruited in the community in general and in the Nucleus of Attention to the Elderly of the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE) through posters and information leaflets about the research.
The study was conducted at the Physiotherapy Department of the UFPE, approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the institution (CAAE: 02993812.3.0000.5208) and registered at ClinicalTrials. gov (trial registration number: NCT 02560831). Participants signed the Informed Consent Term.
Inclusion criteria were: women aged 60 to 80 years, diagnosis of knee OA according to clinical and radiographic criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) (18) and independent walking (without use of walking aid). Exclusion criteria were: unstable cardiovascular and / or respiratory diseases; cognitive disorder; knee and/or hips arthroplasty; have performed in the last six months lower limb surgery, corticosteroid injection in the knee and / or physiotherapy for OA; diseases contributing to balance deficit (ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, neurological diseases, vestibulopathies); fibromyalgia.

Procedures
Twenty-two women were randomized by a simple draw into two groups: FEP group (strengthening and balance exercises associated with knee pompage) and GC control (educational lectures), each with 11 participants.

FEP
Static and dynamic balance and strength exercises for knee extensor and flexor muscles, associated with knee pompage. There were two weekly sessions (60 min) for 12 weeks, comprising: 10min of heating (up to 50% of maximal heart rate) and static stretching; 10min of balance training, 20min of muscle strengthening, 10min of knee pompage and 10min back to rest. Prescribed exercises were based on McKnight (19) and Chaipinyo and Karoonsupcharoen (20). The loads were progressive and adjusted according to the perceived exertion of less than 6 points on the Borg scale (21) ( Table 1).  • Unstable surface circuit. Ø 4 th week: on a mat, walk forward (one foot in front of the other), sideways over five obstacles (sticks) and crossing one foot in front of the other. Ø 5th week: on the mat walk forward (one foot in front of the other), overcome two obstacles (two elastic bands attached between two chairs) and work around two PET bottles, making a trajectory of eight. Ø 6th week: keep your balance on two mats without removing your foot from the floor while trying to catch the ball thrown in several directions by the therapist and walk following markings on the mat.
• Circuit with obstacles. Ø 7th week: Hold a small ball with elbows extended and walk one foot in front of the other on two mats, walk in an eight shape, bypassing two obstacles on the ground, and going up and down a cushion (repeat the circuit five times). Ø 8th week: hold a small ball with elbows extended and walk with one foot in front of the other on two mats, walk sideways, on ground, surpassing four sticks and perform one-way support on a mat (repeat the circuit five times). Ø 9th week: rise and fall of the balance board in the horizontal position (Ten repetitions).
• Circuit with obstacles. Ø 10th week: walk with one foot in front of the other on two mats, sideways between four sticks, go up and down the balance board alternating the LL. Ø 4th week: terminal extension* of the knee in OKC (resistance 1 kg, three sets of ten repetitions) and up and down the 1st step of a ladder with one of the LL (three sets of six, eight and ten repetitions). Ø 5th week: CKC, with the elastic band passing under the foot and holding with both hands, perform minisquats** yielding gradually to the elastic resistance in the flexion and surpassing it in the extension; Sit and lift from a chair without support from UL (three sets of six, eight and ten reps). Ø 6th week: terminal extension* of knee in OKC sitting on the ball (resistance 2kg) and keep one of the lower limbs supported on the 1st step of the ladder, while lifting the body supporting the weight on this leg (three series of six, eight and ten repetitions).
Ø 7th week: mini-squats** with Swiss ball support (three sets of six, eight and ten repetitions) and sit and stand without support of the UL (three sets of six, eight and ten repetitions). Ø 8th week: knee extension in OKC (2kg resistance, three sets of ten repetitions) and step up and down step alternating LL (ten repetitions). Ø 9th week: terminal extension* in OKC (resistance of 2kg, three series of eight, ten and 12 repetitions).
Ø 10th week: terminal extension* of the knee (resistance of 2kg, three series of ten,12 and 15 repetitions); Sit and stand up from the chair without support from UL (three sets of 10,12 and 15 repetitions). Ø 11th week: terminal extension* of the knee, OKC (3kg resistance, three series of ten,12 and 15 repetitions); (three sets of ten repetitions) and minisquatting** with Swiss ball support (three sets of ten,12 and 15 repetitions). Ø 12th week: knee extension in OKC in bodybuilding machine*** (three sets of eight, ten and 12 repetitions (5kg resistance) and minisquatting** with Swiss ball support (three sets of ten,12 and 15 repetitions).
(To be continued)  Knee pompage was performed after exercises, with the patient lying in the supine position at the edge of the stretcher and the hanging leg placed between the legs of the therapist. Three decompression maneuvers of 15 to 20s each were performed by a slight retreat from the therapist's body, whose palms were placed laterally over the tibial tuberosity and the indicators folded under the knee, keeping it slightly flexed to relax the ligaments (17).
For the return to calm, patients relaxed to the sound of calm music, realizing respiratory cycles of slow and deep form.

GC
Educational lectures and group dynamics in four moments: after data collection and in the 4th, 8th and 12th weeks of treatment, according to Coimbra's precepts (16). The topics were: clarification on OA; effects of exercise therapy on quality of life; benefits of proper practice of activities; guidelines for ramps and stairs; ergonomics of domestic and professional work and living habits. GC received the same FEP treatment program after the study period.
Procedures related to the intervention and lectures were performed by physiotherapists and undergraduate students in Physical Therapy after the training period.

Instrumentation
Pain, postural balance, and muscle strength outcomes were collected by blind assessors before and after 12 weeks. An evaluation form has been completed for personal and clinicalfunctional information.

Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
For a better analysis of the concentric muscle torque peak of the knee extensors, the knee was more symptomatic, that is, the one that presented a higher level of pain for the patient, less symptomatic, using the VAS. This measurement consists of a 10 cm line, with anchors at its ends. In one of them it is marked "no pain" and the other "the worst pain". The magnitude of the pain is indicated by marking a line and a ruler is used for measurement. It is considered valid, reliable and responsive to evaluate pain in OA (22).

Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index Questionaire (WOMAC)
Specifically for OA, it is composed of three domains: pain (5 questions), stiffness (2 questions) and functionality (17 questions), whose questions (Conclusion) are answered by the volunteer about their perception in the last 72h. In this study, the pain section score was used. The items were evaluated as "none", "low", "moderate", "intense" and "very intense" levels, being calculated using the Likert scale (23) of 5 points: 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100. Higher scores indicate a worse pain level (24).
Biodex Balance SD (BBSD) (Biodex Medical Systems, New York, USA) It evaluates postural balance by quantifying body oscillation through the indexes of antero-posterior (API), mid-lateral (MLI) and global (OSI) stability on static or unstable surfaces (25). Studies have concluded that there is reliability in the stability and reproducibility indices of the equilibrium tests (26 -29). The Postural Stability protocol (25) was used with bipodal evaluation, open eyes, eight resistance and three repetitions of 20s interspersed with rest. For positioning of the feet, the tendon line of the calcaneus and the middle toe were adopted as a reference. You should keep a cursor in the center of a target. A lower score, that is, smaller deviation of the cursor was desirable. Hand support or withdrawal of platform feet were not allowed. Before the test, the procedure was simulated.

Isokinetic Dynamometer HUMAC® NORM Testing & Rehabilitation System (CSMI Medical Solutions, Massachusetts, USA)
The concentric muscle torque peak of the knee extensors of both lower limbs was evaluated at a speed of 120° / s. Slower speeds (60 and 90° / s) are also recommended, but could contribute to increased pain during the test (30,31). Participants sat in a chair with a 15° inclined backrest, without foot support, stabilized by a belt through the chest, pelvis and distal femur on the side tested (32). For measurement, they were instructed to perform knee extension and flexion at the maximum painfree range. Five repetitions were performed, the highest value being recorded as peak muscular torque. Prior to the test, five replicates were performed to familiarize the procedure. Data was corrected by gravity and recorded in Newton meters (Nm), adjusted for body weight (kg) and presented as percentage.
Statistical analysis SPSS software version 16.0 was used. When the normal distribution was verified using the Shapiro Wilk test, we chose the independent Student t test for intergroup analysis and a p < 0.05. There was intention to treat analysis. The effect size was evaluated through mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence interval.

Results
The elderly women in the study (Figure 1) had a mean age of 66 ± 5.42 years, mean height of 1.57 ± 0.06 m, average body weight of 72.5 ± 1.40 kg, and mean body mass index of 29.38 ± 4.54 kg/m². The characterization of the sample separated by group is shown in table 1, with no clinical and statistically significant difference between the groups at the beginning of the study.
According to table 2, the FEP group presented better results in pain outcomes, postural balance and muscle strength when compared to the control group.
Regarding pain, there was a reduction in pain in the FEP group when compared to control, however this result was not significant ( Table 2).
The FEP group had lower levels of API, MLI and OSI when compared to the control group. However, there was only a significant difference for the API and OSI, evidenced by the comparison of mean differences between the FEP and control groups before and after twelve weeks of treatment.
The increase in muscle strength in the FEP group was observed in both the more symptomatic knee and in the less symptomatic knee, but these gains were not significant when compared to the groups.

Discussion
The therapeutic exercise program associated to pompage promoted the reduction of the pain complaint, as well as the increase of the postural balance and of the knee extensor muscle strength in elderly women with knee OA. However, the improvement was statistically significant only for the postural balance outcome.
Systematic review by Fransen et al. (32) found high quality evidence for the reduction of OA pain after the practice of therapeutic exercises. In the present study, the reduction of pain intensity was not significant after the intervention, with a mean difference of ten points. The improvement in this outcome seems to be also associated with the gains on the extensor muscle strength (33), which in this study was also not significant.
Regarding the postural balance, the mean difference analysis showed a significant decrease in the API and OSI after treatment. The improvement of antero-posterior oscillation represents an important functional gain in this population, since according to Petrella et al. (8) it is exacerbated in elderly women with knee OA, resulting in an inability to maintain orthostatic posture. With regard to the significant improvement in the global oscillation, it is suggested that the OSI value has decreased as a function of the reduction of the API value, confirming Arnold and Schmitz (27).
The program of the present study did not address the strengthening of hip abductors, which may be one of the reasons why the decrease of the medium-lateral oscillation (MLI) was not significant (8). Given that an increased MLI oscillation is related to the history of falls in the elderly (8), it is suggested that future studies should include strengthening of hip abductors in their programs.
In relation to quadriceps strength, the metaanalysis of Zacharias et al. (34) analyzed ten studies lasting between six and 12 weeks and found a high quality of evidence for improvement of muscle strength of knee extensors with low intensity resistance programs when compared to a control group. Despite the findings, the meta-analysis did not bring the detailed exercise protocols. This exercise program included isometric strengthening and, mainly, isotonic strengthening with resistance progression over 12 weeks. The increase in the concentric peak torque of knee extensors was not statistically significant, but the mean difference between the groups was greater than ten points for both the more symptomatic and less symptomatic knees.
Jan et al. (35), with a mean difference of approximately ten points after intervention, observed a statistically significant increase in peak torque of knee extensors in subjects with knee OA. However, they performed a program focused on low-intensity resistance exercises with three weekly sessions and duration of eight weeks, as well as a sample of 64 people. The present study was a pilot study. In addition, it covered not only muscle strengthening exercises, but also balance exercises and pompage.
In this program, the pompage technique was applied in order to influence mainly the improvement of pain and postural balance. The action on pain may be associated to the effect of the technique on joint decompression and combat cartilaginous degeneration, reestablishing the water balance and limiting cartilage dryness (17). According to Kul-Panza and Berker (36), the greater the degree of knee OA, the greater the difficulty in maintaining balance. Therefore, combating the evolution of cartilaginous degeneration through the pompage, we suggest the impact on postural balance. Despite this, the lack of evidence on the effects of pompage on the treatment of OA hinders a greater understanding about its therapeutic action.
The limitations of this study include the small sample size and the follow-up losses due to locomotion problems of the participants throughout the program. In spite of this, the relevance of presenting a program with a detailed description of the procedures used as: number and duration of sessions, type of exercise, repetitions, series and intensity of training is emphasized. In addition, the low cost and easy applicability of the program allow its implementation in the public health scenario.

Conclusion
Therapeutic exercise program associated with pompage promoted reduction of pain complaint, as well as increased postural balance and knee extensor muscle strength of elderly women with knee OA. However, the improvement was statistically significant only for the postural balance outcome. Despite the findings, this is a pilot study, and more evidence is needed. It is also suggested that future studies should analyze the minimal clinical difference detected by the elderly to know if the change was important for these patients.