BACKGROUND: Heamarthrosis is the most disabling complication of hemophilia causing pain, swelling, limited joint range, and weakness. Without appropriate treatment, chronic heamarthrosis remains a serious problem with permanent disability. The Purpose of this work was to study the effect of treadmill training on quadriceps and hamstring muscles strength in children with knee heamarthrosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty hemophilic male children with unilateral knee heamarthrosis, their ages ranged from 8 to 12 years. They were divided randomly into two groups in equal numbers, control (A) and study (B), 15 patients each. Both groups received traditional treatment program for one hour 5 days/week, in addition the study group received treadmill training for 30 minutes. Peak torque of quadriceps and hamstring muscles was measured by Biodex Isokinetic Dynamometer. Knee swelling was measured by tape measurement. Assessment was performed before and after three successive months of treatment. RESULTS: The results revealed significant difference in all tested variables (p < 0.05) after three months of treatment in both groups in favor to the study group. CONCLUSION: Treadmill training is beneficial in increasing muscle strength and reducing joint swelling in children with knee heamarthrosis.

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

• DOI
• PDF locator
• publisher