Published online Oct 19, 2023. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v13.i10.743
Peer-review started: August 1, 2023
First decision: August 16, 2023
Revised: August 28, 2023
Accepted: September 5, 2023
Article in press: September 5, 2023
Published online: October 19, 2023
Processing time: 72 Days and 4 Hours
Given the limited efficacy of clinical intervention in knee osteoarthritis (KOA), it is necessary to continue to explore appropriate and effective treatment strategies to improve the condition of KOA patients.
The pathogenesis of KOA is complex, and exploring effective treatment strategies is of great significance for the prevention and treatment of this disease.
The aim of this study is to clarify the influence of ankle flexion and extension exercises combined with psychological intervention on the psychology and activities of daily living (ADLs) of patients with KOA.
The research participants were 116 KOA patients admitted between May 2019 and May 2022, including 54 cases receiving routine treatment, care and psychological intervention (control group) and 62 cases additionally treated with ankle flexion and extension exercises (research group) on the basis of the control group. The two groups were comparatively analyzed in terms of psychological status (Self-rating Anxiety/Depression Scale, SDS/SAS), ADLs (ADL scale), knee joint function (Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale), pain (Visual Analogue Scale, VAS), fatigue (Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, MFI), and quality of life (QoL; Short-Form 36 Item Health Survey, SF-36).
After evaluation, it was found that the postinterventional SDS, SAS, VAS, and MFI scores in the research group were significantly reduced compared with the baseline (before the intervention) values and those of the control group, while the postinterventional Lysholm, ADL, and SF-36 scores were markedly elevated.
Ankle flexion and extension exercises are highly effective in easing negative psychology, enhancing ADLs, knee joint function and QoL, and relieving pain and fatigue in KOA patients, which is worthy of clinical promotion.
In addition to the positive effect on the negative psychological relief and improvement of ADLs of KOA patients, ankle flexion and extension exercises combined with a psychological intervention can also effectively restore knee joint function, alleviate pain and fatigue, and enhance patients’ quality of life, providing an effective treatment option for KOA patients.