The investigation of the effects of non-immersive virtual reality exercises on muscle excitability around the knee and balance in patients with knee osteoarthritis

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of non-immersive virtual reality application on muscle excitability around the knee, balance, proprioception, physical function level, independence levels in daily living activities, muscle endurance and patient satisfaction in patients with knee osteoarthritis. For this purpose, 40 participants were distributed to study (n:20) and sham-control (n:20) groups by stratified randomization. The study group received 45 minutes of traditional physiotherapy and 30 minutes of non-immersive virtual reality-based knee joint exercises a day for 3 weeks, 5 days a week, while the sham-control group received traditional physiotherapy and sham-virtual reality application for 30 minutes a day for the same period. Measurements were taken at baseline and at the end of the 3rd week. Demographic information form was used for demographic data, superficial electromyography was used for muscle excitability, Tetrax posturography device was used for static balance, timed up and go test was used for dynamic balance, Protractor and Angle Gauge application was used for proprioception, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) was used for physical function evaluation, Katz Index was used for independence level of activities of daily living, 30-second stand to sit test was used for muscular endurance, and 10-centimeter visual analogue scale was used for treatment satisfaction. The findings showed that there was a statistically significant difference in muscle excitability, balance, proprioception, endurance, pain intensity and functional disability parameters in favor of the study group (p<0.05). Non-immersive virtual reality applications are effective approaches for increasing muscle excitability, static and dinamic balance, musle endurance, proprioception, treatment satisfaction and reducing pain intensity in knee osteoarthritis.