Assessment of Rehabilitation Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Knee Osteoarthritis Receiving Physiotherapy

Abstract

Background: Chronic knee osteoarthritis is a progressive degenerative condition associated with pain, disability, and reduced mobility, often requiring long-term physiotherapy to improve functional outcomes. Understanding the extent to which rehabilitation influences pain, functional performance, and disability is essential for optimizing conservative management strategies. Objective: To assess rehabilitation outcomes in patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis receiving physiotherapy by evaluating changes in pain intensity, disability, and functional mobility using validated clinical measures. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 96 adults with chronic knee osteoarthritis undergoing physiotherapy. Pain was assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, disability using the WOMAC Index, and functional performance using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and 30-Second Chair Stand Test. Demographic and clinical data were collected, and statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, group comparisons based on physiotherapy duration, and correlation analyses, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: Participants demonstrated moderate baseline disability (mean WOMAC 54.2 ± 12.4) and impaired mobility (TUG 14.8 ± 3.9 seconds). Those receiving ≥8 weeks of physiotherapy exhibited significantly lower pain (p < 0.001), reduced disability (p < 0.001), faster TUG times (p = 0.002), and greater chair-stand performance (p = 0.001). Physiotherapy duration showed strong correlations with all outcome measures. Conclusion: Longer physiotherapy duration is associated with meaningful improvements in pain, disability, and functional mobility, supporting the value of sustained rehabilitation in chronic knee osteoarthritis management.