Efeito do fortalecimento de membros inferiores na melhora da dor e funcionalidade de indivíduos portadores de osteoartrite de joelho: uma revisão de literatura

Abstract

Introduction: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic, multifactorial inflammatory condition that significantly affects the quality of life of older adults, limiting mobility and causing persistent pain. Physical therapy plays a fundamental role in the rehabilitation of these individuals, especially through muscle strengthening. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of lower limb strengthening in reducing pain and improving function in individuals with knee OA, compared to no exercise. Methodology: This is a literature review, focusing on articles published since 2015, indexed in the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro). Randomized clinical trials that evaluated the effect of lower limb strengthening on pain and function in individuals with knee OA were included. Results: Eight studies were included. Six out of 8 (75%) indicated that lower limb strengthening exercises are superior to no exercise in reducing pain and improving function in individuals with knee OA. Only one remote study (12.5%) did not confirm these effects, suggesting that a lack of supervision compromises the results. Furthermore, another study (12.5%) evaluated a Hatha Yoga based intervention and demonstrated significant improvements not only in pain and physical function, but also in emotional, psychological, and spiritual aspects, highlighting the complementary potential of integrative approaches in the management of OA. Conclusion: The results of this review indicate that strengthening exercises are effective in reducing pain and improving functionality in individuals with knee OA, but their effectiveness is reduced when performed remotely. Integrative practices, such as Hatha Yoga, may play a complementary role in managing the disease. Future studies with larger sample size are needed to confirm these findings.