This literature review specifically examines the bio!ogical basis for, and efficacy of, electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) of quadriceps femoris (QF) for improving the clinical status of the individual with knee osteoarthritis (OA). All published data pertaining to selected aspects of the literature concerning EMS and knee OA were reviewed. Then the seven pertinent controlled clinical studies identified in the reviewed databases on this topic were systematically analysed with respect to their outcomes and methodological quality. As a whole, the results showed strong support for the beneficial application of QF EMS to the muscles surrounding the osteoarthritic knee. However, confidence in this conclusion is weakened by the small number of efficacy studies, their small sample sizes and their flawed allocation procedures. This line of research, which has a strong biological basis, could benefit from physiotherapy-led studies which examine the evidence base of QF EMS for treating knee OA using more divergently impaired, larger samples and optimal randomisation procedures.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help

• PDF locator
• publisher

A brief summary and a critical assessment of this review may be available at DARE