Effect of Tissue Flossing, AIS, PNF on Hamstring Among Knee OA Patients

Arthritis is a broad term that encompasses a large number of diseases that affects one or more joints of the body. Amongst all other forms, Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent. Osteoarthritis is widespread throughout the world. It is one of the top leading causes of disability on a global scale. Previously this disease was thought to simply be due to biomechanical disturbances causing 'wear and tear' thus giving the characteristic feature of articular destruction leading to stiffness, inflammation and loss of mobility of joints over a long period of time. Due to recent advances in this area of study, evidence has revealed that OA has a collection of a much more complex multifactorial process composed of inflammatory and metabolic factors.

Typical clinical symptoms found in patients with Osteoarthritis include severe joint pain, stiffness, and significantly reduced mobility, which leads to decreased productivity and quality of life among the patients . Osteoarthritis can develop in any joint of the human body but the most frequently affected are the knees, hips, hands, facet joints and feet. This disease not only has an impact on the patient but in addition it also gives rise to an increased socioeconomic burden on the society. In 2005, it was estimated that over 26 million people in the USA had some form of OA. An estimated 30.8 million adults in the United States and 300 million individuals worldwide are living with OA. The severity of the Osteoarthritis can be categorized according Kellgren-Lawrence Grading System for Osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis frequently affects the weight bearing joints of the body. Knee OA has a high prevalence and is a disabling joint disease. The OA of the knee joint almost accounts for more than 80% of the disease's total burden and it affects no less than 19% of American adults aged 45 years and older. The knee joint Osteoarthritis is not only more important for its high prevalence rate in comparison to other types of OA but also for its presentation at earlier age groups. The incidence of knee OA increases by age and further increases with longer lifetime. The prevalence is found to be higher in females as compared to males. Participation in sports, injury to the joint, high BMI, and genetic susceptibility are also some factors that predispose individuals to the development of Knee osteoarthritis. Previous knee trauma increases the risk of knee OA 3.86 times. Overall an estimate of 80% of patients with knee OA suffer from some form of movement restriction, while 20% are unable to perform basic daily activities; indeed, 11% of sufferers require personal care. Amongst the cardinal symptoms of OA, pain is the biggest concern, and motor disability and impaired proprioception are important secondary factors.

Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) technique has already been found to have beneficial effects in improving hamstring flexibility and reducing pain in the knee joint of knee OA patients. Active isolated stretch is also found to be effective to increase flexibility and improve ROM.

Tissue flossing is a relatively new technique to be introduced in the world of research. Tissue flossing is a new method that aims to improve range of motion (ROM), reduce pain, prevent injury, or enhance recovery. Since its arrival the technique has been researched upon mainly on the athletic population. Tissue flossing is a technique that requires wrapping of a thick rubber band around a joint or muscle concomitantly performing ROM tasks for 1-3 minutes. The results include increase in range of motion and a decrease in pain of the effected muscles. The phenomenon behind getting results through this technique is hypothesized to be blood reperfusion to an occluded area via tissue flossing augments exercise performance mechanisms such as growth hormone, catecholamine responses, muscle force contractility and the efficiency of excitation-contraction coupling in the muscles. In addition, tissue flossing may influence fascia tightness via the fascial mechanoreceptors, therefore reducing muscle activity, resulting in a greater ROM. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanism for tissue flossing, these mechanisms remain speculative.