Hip abductor strengthening vs iliotibial band stretching exercises in conventional knee osteoarthritis rehabilitation: a comparative trial

The aim of this study is to compare the effect of hip abductor and iliotibial band (ITB) exercises for patients of knee osteoarthritis (OA). 60 patients with knee OA were randomly divided into three groups. Group A received hip abductor strengthening along with quadriceps strengthening exercises, Group B received iliotibial band stretching along with quadriceps strengthening exercises and Group C received conventional knee exercises. The treatment duration was three sessions per week in alternate days for 3 weeks. The outcome measures were pain, physical performance and quality of life, which were evaluated at the baseline and after 3 week of intervention with the visual analogue scale, chair sit to stand test and knee injuries and osteoarthritis outcome score questionnaire. All the three groups showed statistically significant improvement in pain, physical performance and quality of life in patients with knee OA. Hip abductor strengthening exercises group showed more significant improvement in pain, physical performance and quality of life than the Iliotibial band stretching exercises group. The results of the study suggest that the hip abductor strengthening exercises can be more effective than iliotibial band stretching exercises in reducing pain, improving quality of life and physical performance in patients with knee osteoarthritis. But we can also use iliotibial band stretching exercises with other interventions in case of knee OA because iliotibial band stretching exercises also gives result in reduction of pain, symptoms and improvement in physical performance and quality of life. Clinical trial registry of India No. CTRI/2023/06/054225