Original Research Article
Year: 2018 | Month: August | Volume: 8 | Issue: 8 | Pages: 171-175
Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Knee Joint Proprioception – A Cross Sectional Study in Healthy Adults
Dr. Vijaya Krishnan1, Dr. Sushmita Goswami2
1Lecturer, 2BPTh, MGM College of Physiotherapy, Kamothe, Navi Mumbai.
Corresponding Author: Dr. Vijaya Krishnan
ABSTRACT
Background: The ability to identify the placement of a joint in space even when with his/her vision is obstructed with minimal external cues is Joint position sense (JPS). Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is a method where electric current is applied to the skin resulting in a large recruitment of sensory nerve fibres and mechanoreceptors.
Methodology: 200 young adults participating in the study were shown two Knee flexion angles (300) and (600) in weight bearing and non weight bearing position for the dominant leg. These angles were repeated and recorded when blindfolded and again after application of 30 minutes high frequency TENS.
Results: There was statistically significant difference noted (p=0.000) in weight bearing position only for 300knee flexion angle post TENS while the response for knee angles in non weight bearing position was statistically significant (p=0.00) for both 300and 600 post TENS.
Conclusion: The application of TENS increases the joint position sense and proprioception of knee flexion angles of 300 and non weight bearing both 300and 600 flexion angles. Non weight bearing position is the ideal method to improve knee joint position sense and thus proprioception.
Key words: TENS, joint position sense, proprioception, functional knee angles, Knee Osteoarthritis, young adult.