Abstract

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of Mulligan’s bent leg raise technique and muscle energy technique on pain intensity and hamstring flexibility in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
Methodology: This randomized clinical trial was conducted with non probability purposive sampling technique. Data were collected from Allied Hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Participants were incorporated according to addition and omission basis. A total of 114 participants were blindly arranged in A and B groups. Group A was treated by Mulligans bent leg raise (BLR) technique while group B was treated by post isometric relaxation muscle energy technique (PIR-MET). Visual analogue scale, active knee extension test (AKE) and knee oxford score (KOS) were used. Total 12 sessions were given for consecutive 4 weeks. SPSS, pair t test and independent t test were used for interpretation of results.
Result: BLR group had 32% male and 68% female (n=50) while MET group had 43% male and 57% female (n=51). Intra group comparison by pair t test showed significant difference in VAS (P˂0.000), AKE (P˂0.000) as well as KOS score (P˂0.000) before and after the interventions. Inter group comparison showed significant difference in VAS and non-significant difference in AKT (P>.358) and KOS (P>.636) after 6 and 9 sessions between groups.
Conclusion: Mulligans bent leg raise technique showed more improvement than post isometric relaxation muscle energy technique in lowering the pain level and improved knee extension movement and participants functional activities in osteoarthritis patients.

Key words: Mulligan bent leg raise, Muscle energy technique, Hamstring flexibility, Pain intensity, Osteoarthritis.