OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Tuina on muscular tension of flexor and extensor in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

METHODSFrom June 2009 to March 2010, 20 patients with KOA were observed, including 7 males and 13 females, the age ranged from 42 to 72 years with an average of 61 years. Eight patients were ailed with single knee, 12 patients were ailed with double knee. The maneuver of Tuina were Gun maneuvers (120 to 140 times per minute), An maneuvers, Na maneuvers and Ca maneuvers. The patients were treated 3 times every week,and 10 times were 1 course of treatment. The muscular tension of flexor and extensor were measured before and after treatment, and the press force of the point reached largest of L 500 g when the press was 500 g. The therapeutic effects were assessed by WOMAC (including pain, stiffness, functional activity and overall score) scale before and after treatment.

RESULTSThere was significant increase in the ill knee on L 500 g (P<0.01). There was significant decrease after treatment in WOMAC (P<0.01). There was significant positive correlation between the improvement rate of extensor and the improvement rate of therapeutic effects (P<0.01, r=0.764). There was significant positive correlation between the improvement rate of flexor and the improvement rate of therapeutic effects (P<0.01, r2=0.533).

CONCLUSIONTuina can improve muscular tension of flexor and extensor in patients with knee osteoarthritis, thus can improve the therapeutic effects.