
Analysing the Effects of Longwave Diathermy on Quality of Life among Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Pilot Study
Correspondence Address :
Dr. Pragya Kumar,
Associate Professor, Department of Physiotherapy, Amity Institute of Health Allied Sciences, Amity University, Noida-201303, Uttar Pradesh, India.
E-mail: pkumar24@amity.edu
Introduction: Knee Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative condition that significantly impairs the Quality of Life (QoL) in individuals over the age of 50 years. Longwave Diathermy (LWD), known for its ability to improve circulation, reduce pain and enhance functional recovery, has emerged as a promising physiotherapeutic intervention.
Aim: To evaluate and compare the effects of Pulsed Longwave Diathermy (PLWD) and Continuous Longwave Diathermy (CLWD) on QoL in individuals with knee OA, assessed across all domains of the World Health Organisation Quality of Life Brief version (WHOQoL-BREF): physical health, psychological health, social relationships and environmental health.
Materials and Methods: A comparative pilot study was conducted in the Outpatient Department, Department of Physiotherapy, Amity Institute of Health Allied Sciences, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India, from January 2023 to May 2023. Study included 30 participants aged ≥45 years, diagnosed with grade 2-3 knee OA (Kellgren-Lawrence scale). Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: grade 1 received PLWD with conventional therapy and grade 2 received CLWD with conventional therapy for eight weeks, three times per week. The WHOQoL-BREF was employed as the primary outcome measure to evaluate QoL across four domains: psychological, social, physical and environmental well-being. Assessments using the WHOQoL-BREF were conducted at three key time points: baseline (prior to intervention), after four weeks of intervention and after eight weeks of intervention. Mann-Whitney U test was employed to compare baseline characteristics and differences between the two groups. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used for significant interactions between time points and groups.
Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in QoL across all WHOQoL-BREF domains. However, the CLWD group demonstrated greater improvements compared to the PLWD group. In the physical health domain, mean±Standard Deviation (SD) scores improved from 31.33±0.49 at baseline to 56.13±1.85 at eight weeks (F=2.575, p-value<0.05). For psychological health, mean±SD scores increased from 24±5.86 to 54±0 (F=2.575, p-value<0.05). Social relationships mean±SD scores rose from 39.33±10.77 to 68±0 (F=3.533, p-value<0.05). Lastly, the environmental health domain improved from 31.33±0.49 to 56.33±1.76 (F=17.92, p-value<0.05).
Conclusion: The CLWD, when combined with conventional therapy, significantly enhances QoL in individuals with knee OA across all domains of the WHOQoL-BREF. These findings highlight its potential as an effective non invasive intervention for managing knee OA. Further large-scale studies are recommended to confirm these results and explore individualised treatment protocols.
Environmental health, Physical health, Psychological health, Social relationships
DOI: 10.7860/JCDR/2025/77149.20717
Date of Submission: Dec 06, 2024
Date of Peer Review: Dec 17, 2024
Date of Acceptance: Jan 31, 2025
Date of Publishing: Mar 01, 2025
AUTHOR DECLARATION:
• Financial or Other Competing Interests: None
• Was Ethics Committee Approval obtained for this study? Yes
• Was informed consent obtained from the subjects involved in the study? Yes
• For any images presented appropriate consent has been obtained from the subjects. NA
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