Effect of exercise therapy with tibial internal-rotation on clinical outcomes and knee kinematics of osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled trial

INTERVENTION: Novel knee exercise therapy with tibial internal‐rotation was carried out for 3 months (once a week). Intervention was a manual therapy for improving range of tibial internal‐rotation, and 3 exercises: tibial internal‐external rotation, knee flexion/extension with tibial internal‐rotation, knee‐out squat. Participants carried out home‐exercise every day. Traditional knee exercise therapy was carried out for 3 months at a medical institution (once a week). Intervention was quadriceps muscle training, hip abduction, hip adduction, hip extension, leg press, squat. Participants carried out home‐exercise every day. CONDITION: Osteoarthritis of the knee PRIMARY OUTCOME: Knee joint kinematics before and after intervention (3 months) SECONDARY OUTCOME: Knee flexion/extension angle, Timed Up & Go Test, 20 m gait, WOMAC, SF‐36, MRI, parameters of gait (three‐dimensional analysis) INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1) Japanese males and females, 2) between 50 and 80 years old, 3) primary medial compartment knee osteoarthritis, 4) radiographic severity classified using Kellgren‐Lawrence classification grade was grade I to grade III.