• Aline Mizusaki Imoto de Oliveira, Maria Stella Peccin, Kelson Nonato Gomes da Silva, Lucas Emmanuel Pedro de Paiva Teixeira, and Virgínia Fernandes Moça Trevisani.
• Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Departamento de Medicina Interna e Terapêutica. Rua Pedro de Toledo 598 – Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. aline.mizusaki@globo.com
• Rev Bras Reumatol. 2012 Dec 1;52(6):876-82.

BackgroundMuscle weakness, especially of the quadriceps muscle, is one of the major musculoskeletal effects of knee osteoarthritis. Exercises are considered one of the main interventions in the conservative treatment of those patients.ObjectiveTo assess the effectiveness of quadriceps strengthening exercises on functional capacity and symptoms related of knee osteoarthritis by use of the Timed Up and Go test (TUG), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and the Lequesne Index.MethodsOne hundred patients were randomized into two groups: 1) Exercise Group (n = 50), which included stationary bicycle, hamstrings stretching, and quadriceps strengthening; 2) Instruction Group (n = 50), which received a manual with information about knee osteoarthritis and instructions on how to deal with knee symptoms in daily activities. The manual did not include exercise instructions.ResultsThe Exercise Group showed statistically significant improvement regarding the TUG test, the WOMAC aspects of pain, function, and stiffness, and the Lequesne Index, as compared with the Instruction Group.ConclusionQuadriceps strengthening exercises for eight weeks are effective to improve pain, function, and stiffness in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

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