Guadarrama

Knee osteoarthritis is a common condition that affects patients' function and quality of life. This research aims to compare the effects of shockwave therapy combined with knee strengthening exercises versus knee strengthening exercises alone in reducing pain and improving function in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The study is designed as a randomized controlled trial involving patients admitted to a functional recovery unit. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group will receive a three-week program of knee strengthening exercises, and the other group will receive the same exercise program plus three weekly sessions of shockwave therapy. The intervention group will have one shockwave session each week during the exercise period. Both groups will follow the rehabilitation protocol as planned. Participants will be evaluated at four times: before treatment starts, after three weeks of treatment, one month after the last treatment session, and three months after the last session. Pain levels will be measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and knee function will be assessed with the WOMAC questionnaire. Other data such as stiffness, satisfaction, therapy details, and clinical information will also be collected. The main outcome is the level of pain reduction from the start of the study until three months after the last treatment.