Hip strengthening reduces symptoms but not knee load in people with medial knee osteoarthritis and varus malalignment: A randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether hip abductor and adductor muscle strengthening reduces medial compartment knee load and improves symptoms in people with medial tibiofemoral OA and varus malalignment. Methods: In a randomised controlled trial, 89 participants were randomly allocated to a hip strengthening group or to a control group with no intervention. The strengthening group performed a physiotherapist-supervised home exercise program targeting the hip abductor and adductor muscles for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the peak external knee adduction moment measured using three-dimensional gait analysis by a blinded assessor. Secondary outcomes included a pain numeric rating scale, Wester..