Myofascial release; a diagnostic tool for kneeabdomen and knee myofascial pain syndromes in knee osteoarthritic patients. An interventional based prevalence study

Abstract

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is detected in all grades in imaging of asymptomatic individuals. Knee-abdomen syndrome (KAS) and knee myofascial pain syndrome (KMPS) are newly identified syndromes of knee pain originating from myofascial induced stress upon the knee’s capsule.

Objective: To measure the prevalence of KAS and KMPS among knee OA patients and explore the concepts of the new syndromes.

Methods: An intervention-based prevalence study was conducted with a representative sample of 61 knee OA patients who underwent one session of Myofascial release (MFR). Pain was evaluated and averaged pre- and post-MFR during standing, active knee flexion, extension, and squats. A pain reduction of 50% is considered diagnostic for KMPS and KAS. Pain reduction maintained for one week indicates KAS.

Results: KAS and KMPS were reconstructed as part of the knee myofascial pain spectrum (KMPs). 13% of patients had KMPs with asymptomatic OA and 100% pain reduction post-MFR. 20% had symptomatic OA with no pain reduction. 67% of patients had KMPs with more than 20% pain reduction.

Conclusion: KMPs was identified in the majority of knee OA patients. Asymptomatic OA was misdiagnosed as the source of pain in 13% of patients.