Proposed Topic (Most preferred): :
Clinical Safety and Quality Service II (Projects aiming to enhance clinical safety and outcomes, clinical governance / risk management)
Proposed Topic (Second preferred): :
HA Young Investigators Session (Projects to be presented by HA staff who had joined HA for 10 years or less)
Authors (including presenting author) :
Ng YH(1), Chan KL(1), Chan YY(1), Wong SW(2), Law WY(2), Cheung CT(1),
Lo KM(2), Choi TL(2), Lam YT(2), Koo SC(2), Law SW(2)
Affiliation :
(1) Physiotherapy Department, Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital
(2) Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital
Introduction :
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative condition causing physical disability in the ageing population of Hong Kong. Hydrotherapy has emerged as a popular adjunctive intervention to conventional exercise for knee OA patients. However, limited research has been conducted to investigate the combined effect of hydrotherapy and conventional treatment in this specific patient group.
Objectives :
The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of a combined hydrotherapy and land-based exercise (CG) with land-based exercise alone (LG) in knee OA patients.
Methodology :
A retrospective cohort study of 156 knee OA patients was conducted. Clinical data were collected from The Structured Non-surgical Treatment Programme (SNTP) in Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital from October 2023 to December 2023. The patients were divided into two groups: CG (n=41) and LG (n=115). Pain intensity, measured using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), patient-reported walking tolerance, Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), 30-second Chair Stand Test (30CST), Knee Society Score (KSS), KSS Function Score, and three subscales of The Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), including pain (KP), symptoms (KPS), and quality of life (KQ), were assessed at baseline and post-intervention.
Result & Outcome :
Both CG and LG demonstrated statistically significant reduction in NPRS (p<0.05), improved self-reported walking tolerance (p<0.01), 30CST (p< 0.01), KSS Function Score (p<0.01), KOOS KP (p<0.05) and KOOS KQ (p<0.05). In addition, 30CST showed statistically significant inter-group difference (p<0.05) in favor of CG. However, neither group showed statistically significant changes in TUG, KSS and KOOS KPS post-intervention. The attendance rates were 85% in CG and 89% in LG, and no adverse events were reported.
Both hydrotherapy and land-based exercise have demonstrated efficacy in reducing pain and improving physical function in knee OA patients. Although hydrotherapy did not show superiority over land-based exercise in this study, it was found to be a safe and well-tolerated intervention for this specific patient group.
