Functional Outcomes and Pain Severity among Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis Receiving Physiotherapy Rehabilitation

Abstract

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of pain and disability in older adults, and physiotherapy plays a central role in symptom management and functional improvement. This study assessed pain severity and functional status in knee OA patients after physiotherapy and examined factors associated with functional outcomes. Methodology: Cross-sectional study of 100 knee OA patients on physiotherapy rehabilitation. The demographic and clinical data (age, gender, BMI, duration of the disease and physiotherapy sessions) were obtained via a structured questionnaire. Using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), pain severity was assessed, and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) was used to assess functional status. Data were analyzed using SPSS with descriptive statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression (p<0.05). Results: The mean VAS pain score was 5.8 ± 1.7, reflecting that participants experienced moderate pain. The mean total WOMAC score was 42.9 ± 10.4, and the mean functional outcome score was 68.5 ± 13.2. Moderate functional outcomes were shown in 54.0% of subjects, while 28.0% achieved good recovery. Physiotherapy sessions were significantly associated with functional outcome scores (F = 18.64, p < 0.001). Severity of pain was negatively correlated with functional outcome (r = -0.67, p < 0.001), and physiotherapy sessions (r = 0.59, p < 0.001) were positively correlated. Multiple regression analysis showed that pain severity (β = −0.45, p < 0.001) was the most negative predictor of functional outcomes and physiotherapy participation (β = 0.39, p < 0.001) was the most positive. Conclusions: Despite continuing rehabilitation, patients with knee OA had moderate pain and functional limitations. Greater physiotherapy use was associated with functional recovery, while more severe pain was correlated with less functional recovery.