Effects of Hyaluronic Acid Injection and Exercise Treatments in Knee Osteoarthritis

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common joint diseases that most often causes physical disability. Physical therapy modalities, exercise programs and intra-articular injections are widely used in the treatment of OA. Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of adding different exercise treatments to hyaluronan injection on proprioception, muscle strength and quality of life in patients with knee OA. Methods: A total of 54 patients were included in the study and were randomized into three groups. Quadriceps strengthening exercises were applied to the patients in Group 1, a home exercise program was applied to the patients in Group 2, and no exercise program was applied to the patients in Group 3. Additionally, all patients received patient education and intra-articular hyaluronic acid injection into the symptomatic knee. Standard forms were filled out to evaluate the patients\' pain, functional status and quality of life. Muscle strength and proprioception were evaluated with an isokinetic dynamometer. Changes in the patients\' walking parameters were evaluated by gait analysis. Evaluations were made at the beginning of treatment, at the end of treatment, and at the 3rd and 6th months of treatment.