A STUDY TO COMPARE MULLIGAN MANUAL THERAPY VERSUS NEUROMUSCULAR EXERCISE TRAINING IN REDUCING DISABILITY AND IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS

Rama Krishna Sai Aremanda*, Kolli Eswar Reddy, Christie Kiran Gotru and Susmita Reddy Marreddy

ABSTRACT

Background: Both mulligan and neuromuscular exercise training have been proven effective in reducing
disability, and improving quality of life in subjects with knee osteoarthritis. There is a lack of literature comparing
the efficacy of these two techniques in the female population. Conflicting results and lack of evidence make this
research domain more interesting. Methodology: 30 subjects with knee osteoarthritis were included and randomly
assigned into 2 groups. Group A (n=15) received mulligan mobilization along with a supervised exercise program,
and Group B (n=15) received neuromuscular exercise training alone thrice weekly for 6 weeks. Results:
Significant improvement was found in all two groups for all outcome parameters (p<0.05), between group analysis
of post-intervention and follow-up data, Group B showed significant improvement in the SF36 and WOMAC
groups. Conclusion: The study shows that both Group A (Mulligan manual therapy) and Group B (Neuromuscular
exercise training) are effective in reducing disability and improving the quality of life. However, group B
(NMEXT) is more significant in reducing disability and improving quality of life.

Keywords: Osteoarthritis, Mulligan manual therapy, Neuromuscular exercise training, Disability, Quality of life.