Rate of Torque Development and Voluntary Quadriceps Activation in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Quantitative Analysis Before and After a Single Session of Manual Physical Therapy

This is a randomized control trial to determine if there is a measurable change in voluntary quadriceps activation, RTD, pain, and function before and after a single session of manual physical therapy. The researchers will utilize a sample of convenience with consecutive sampling at the Brooke Army Medical Center physical therapy clinic for patients referred for knee osteoarthritis. As is standard of care, patients will be provided a medical intake form and a clinical outcome measure commensurate with their primary anatomic region for which they are seeking physical therapy (i.e.: Lower Extremity Functional Scale for hip, knee, or ankle pain). If patients choose to partake in the study, they will complete the consent form and the initial physical therapy evaluation will be conducted. They will then be provided an appointment for data collection at the Army-Baylor Center for Rehabilitation Research biomechanics lab at the Army Medical Department Center and School. The treatment group will receive one 30-minute session of orthopedic manual physical therapy targeting the knee joint and soft tissues with complementary exercises targeted at their impairment. The control group will receive a 30-minute class on knee OA diagnosis, prognosis, various treatment options, and will conclude with a question and answer with the researcher. Both groups will receive their intervention from a board-certified physical therapist in the Army-Baylor Orthopedic Manual Therapy Fellowship program. At the conclusion of formal testing, the patient will be provided standard physical therapy care as deemed appropriate by their evaluating physical therapist. Thus, all subjects, regardless of their assigned group, will receive the same standard of care for their knee pain.