OBJECTIVETo evaluate clinical effects of knee osteoarthritis with the treatment of the isometric quadriceps femoris contraction exercises, which aims at establishing the exercise prescription of knee osteoarthritis,and promoting its clinical application.

METHODSFrom January 2008 to September 2010, 120 patients with knee osteoarthritis were divided into two groups according to visiting sequence, including 39 males and 81 females, ranging in age from 40 to 85 years, with an average of 62.50 years, the disease course ranged from 1 month to 30 years. There were 60 patients in the therapeutic group, including 21 males and 39 females, ranging in age from 40 to 85 years, with an average of (62.27 +/- 8.99) years, the disease course ranged from 2 months to 30 years; and the patients were treated with intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate and isometric quadriceps femoris contraction exercises for treatment. There were 60 patients in the control group; including 18 males and 42 females, ranging in age from 41 to 80 years, with an average of (62.72 +/- 8.34) years, the disease course ranged from 1 month to 30 years; and the patients were treated with conventional intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate. The index such as the pains,functions and articular dropsy of the knees were observed and the clinical effects were compared respectively.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 1 to 3 years, with an average of 18 months. According to standard of JOA about evaluating the therapeutic effects of knee osteoarthritis: in the therapeutic group, 12 patients got an excellent result, 33 good, 14 poor and 1 bad; and in the control group, 7 patients got an excellent result, 14 good, 31 poor and 8 bad. The clinical results of therapeutic group was better than that of control group. There were 7 recurrent cases in the therapeutic group and 31 recurrent cases in the control group; the recurrence rate in therapeutic group was lower than that of control group.

CONCLUSIONThe isometric quadriceps femoris contraction exercises has obvious effect in alleviating the symptoms, improving joint function, strengthening the joint stability and slowing down joint degeneration process for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, which has a good effect in the long-term clinical effects.