TO COMPARE THE ROM OF KNEE ROTATIONS IN ASYMPTOMATIC SUBJECTS AND PATIENTS WITH RADIOGRAPHICALLY DIAGNOSED KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS.

Nirakar Ghimire, BPT, Kishor Parajuli, BPT, Dr. Chakra Raj Pandey, MD, Dr. Byapak Paudel, MS, Dr. Bhaskar Raj Pant, MD,Dr. Ram Thapa, MBBS, Rajesh Singh, BPT, Anjum Khanal, BPT, Smriti Singh, BPT, Arjun Gautam, BPT. Grande International Hospital, Dhapasi, Kathmandu.

Abstract:
Objective:
Axial rotation of tibia over fixed femur is an open kinematic chain movement taking place in knee joint. This movement helps to lock the knee joint during standing (screw home mechanism). In persons with Osteoarthritis of the knee joint, the altered biomechanics may lead to restriction in axial rotation ROM of knee joint (medial and lateral rotation). The aim of our study is to compare ROM of knee rotations in asymptomatic subjects and patients with radiographically diagnosed knee osteoarthritis.

Methodology:
The study was a Cross sectional Study on a total 40 subjects who were divided into two groups: Group A- Asymptomatic subjects without any low back, hip, knee and ankle pain Group B- Diagnosed osteoarthritis patients stage

Knee ROM of rotation was measured in both the groups with foot print method in 90 deg of knee flexion and comparison was made between them. The study was carried out at the Physiotherapy Department, Medicare National Hospital, Chabahil, Kathmandu. Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age= 40 to 70 yrs 2. Gender both males and females Exclusion Criteria: 1. 2. 3. 4. Patients with history of fall and blunt trauma over back and lower limbs Patients with chronic and acute low back pain History of any surgery of lower limbs Patients with any knee joint pathology like osteomyelitis, chondromalacia patella, bone tumor.

Result/Conclusion:
Statistical analysis was done using Unrelatedt test which showed significant difference (p<0.05) between medial rotation between symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects. Knee medial rotation decreases in patients with osteoarthritis as compared to asymptomatic subjects Similarly, decreased medial rotation causes increase in disability. Hence loss of rotation should be prevented in patients with osteoarthritis by teaching rotation exercises.