Physiotherapy Management of Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis in an Older Adult: A Case Report

Abstract

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common degenerative musculoskeletal disorder in older adults and a major cause of pain, mobility limitation, and reduced quality of life. Conservative physiotherapy is recommended as first-line management to improve symptoms and physical function.
Objective: To describe the short-term clinical outcomes of a multimodal physiotherapy intervention in an older adult with bilateral knee osteoarthritis.
Methods: This case report involved a 60-year-old woman with bilateral knee osteoarthritis presenting with knee pain, stiffness, muscle weakness, reduced mobility, and functional limitation. The patient underwent three supervised physiotherapy sessions over one month consisting of therapeutic ultrasound, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching, hip strengthening exercise, and stationary cycling. Pain intensity was assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), while functional activity was evaluated using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Inferential statistical analysis, confidence intervals, and effect size calculations were not performed because of the descriptive single-case design.
Results: After intervention, pain intensity decreased in both knees. In the left knee, resting pain decreased from 5/10 to 3/10, pressure pain from 3/10 to 1/10, and movement pain from 4/10 to 3/10. In the right knee, resting pain and pressure pain decreased from 3/10 to 1/10, while movement pain decreased from 2/10 to 1/10. The WOMAC score improved from 52/96 to 30/96.
Conclusion: The multimodal physiotherapy program was associated with reduced pain and improved functional activity in this patient with bilateral KOA. Further controlled studies are needed to confirm these findings.