Improvements in hip stability and knee muscle strength after a single-dose platelet-rich plasma injection combined with exercise in women with knee osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is associated with pain and lower-limb muscle weakness. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) may reduce symptoms, but functional recovery may depend on concurrent exercise. Aims: To evaluate changes in pain and knee/hip muscle strength after a single intra-articular PRP injection combined with a 6-week home exercise programme in women with knee OA.

METHODS

In this single-group longitudinal study, 27 women (mean age 57.5±7.3 years) performed home exercises three times weekly for 6 weeks after unilateral PRP injection. Outcomes were assessed at baseline (5 days post-injection), week 6, and week 12: hip stability isometric strength using the Hip Stability Isometric Test (HipSIT), quadriceps and hamstring strength (hand-held dynamometry; N/kg), and activity pain using a visual analog scale (VAS, 0–10). Repeated-measures ANOVA was used.

RESULTS

On the affected side, The Hip Stability Isometric Test (HipSIT) increased from 2.68±1.19 to 3.15±1.13 at week 6 and 3.25±1.19 at week 12 (p=0.006). Quadriceps strength increased from 2.57±0.91 to 2.95±0.98 and 2.88±1.07 (p=0.001), and hamstring strength from 1.43±0.56 to 1.67±0.59 and 1.69±0.56 (p=0.011). Activity pain decreased from 7.27±2.10 to 4.48±2.42 and 4.22±2.93 (p=0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

A single PRP injection followed by a short home exercise programme was associated with reduced pain and improved hip stability and knee muscle strength up to 12 weeks in women with knee OA.