ArticleFrontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland)2026
Manual therapy improves pain and walking function in geriatric knee osteoarthritis via proprioceptive mediation.
Article in Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of manual therapy (MT) on pain, walking function, proprioception, and lower-limb muscle strength in geriatric patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and to explore potential biomechanical mechanisms. Methods: In this prospective non-randomized controlled trial, 25 geriatric participants with unilateral mild-to-moderate KOA (intervention group) and 25 matched healthy controls were enrolled. The intervention group underwent a 4-week MT, while the control group received no intervention. The primary outcome was change in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) pain subscale score. Secondary outcomes included 6-minute walk test (6-MWT) distance, proprioceptive force sense (PFS), and maximal isometric lower-limb strength. Causal mediation analysis was employed to investigate mechanistic pathways linking pain modulation to functional recovery. Results: Following MT intervention, the intervention group demonstrated significant reductions in WOMAC pain scores (13.04 ± 4.39 vs. 5.36 ± 2.40; Conclusion: MT delivers significant short-term clinical benefits for elderly patients with unilateral mild-to-moderate KOA (Kellgren-Lawrence grades 0-2), including effective pain relief and improved walking ability, potentially through restoring proprioceptive sensitivity and modulating intermuscular balance.
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