Effectiveness of Joint Distraction Versus Passive End Range Overpressure in Osteoarthritis:

NCT07710404 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: TUF/EIRB/143/2025
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 26
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Knee osteoarthritis was a common degenerative joint condition that caused pain, stiffness, reduced range of motion, and functional limitations. This study compared two manual therapy techniques: Joint Distraction and Passive Joint End-Range Overpressure. The goal was to determine which technique was more effective at reducing pain, improving knee range of motion, enhancing function, and improving quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either Joint Distraction or Passive Joint End-Range Overpressure for 4 weeks.

Conditions

Osteoarthritis; Joint Distraction; Osteogenesis

Keywords

osteoarthritis; pain; range of motion; traction

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• pain intensity

  Primary Outcome Measure Pain Tool Used: Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to assess the patient's pain level. Participants were asked to rate their pain on a scale from 0 to 10. 0 = No pain 1-3 = Mild pain 4-6 = Moderate pain 7-10 = Severe pain This scale was used to categorize the intensity of pain experienced by patients with knee osteoarthritis.

  4 months

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Quality of Life / Broader Function

  4 months

• Disability

  4 months

• Passive Range of Motion

  4 months

Study Arms (2)

GROUP A

EXPERIMENTAL

The joint distraction is the manual approach in knee osteoarthritis. This is very efficient in managing pain, to increase range of motion and reduce stiffness of joint due to osteoarthritis.

Other: Joint distraction GROUP A

GROUP B

EXPERIMENTAL

The passive joint end-range overpressure is the technique of Maitland grade IV which is performed passively. End-range Individual Maitland mobilizations were carried out at the tibiofemoral joint.

Other: Passive Joint End-Range Overpressure TO GROUP B

Interventions

Joint distraction GROUP A OTHER

The joint distraction is the manual approach in knee osteoarthritis. This is very efficient in managing pain, to increase range of motion and reduce stiffness of joint due to osteoarthritis. A specialized greave would be created to distract the knee joint. Using a platform beneath the lower leg to create counterpressure, the knee would be put in flexion while sustained traction will be performed for 20 minutes while the patient would be in a supine posture. In each session, the traction would be adjusted to the patients' perceived threshold. The least amount of work that caused patients to get distracted would be employed as a diversion

GROUP A

Passive Joint End-Range Overpressure TO GROUP B OTHER

The passive joint end-range overpressure is the technique of Maitland grade IV which is performed passively. End-range Individual Maitland mobilizations were carried out at the tibiofemoral joint. Depending on the patient's level of pain and tolerance, an oscillatory accessory approach using Grade III or IV was carried out. Patients positioned their knees in their true end range while lying supine on the plinth. The most limited or reproducible knee pain was caused by the accessory approach that was employed. By moving the therapist's body without making any additional movements, the physical contact accurately replicated the hand position of the mobilization. For three minutes, Maitland mobilization was carried out twice at a rate of one oscillation every one or two seconds, with a 30-second break in between

GROUP B

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 40 Years - 59 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Patients diagnosed with Grade 2 or Grade 3 Knee Osteoarthritis.
• A Kellgren-Lawrence Grade (KLG) of at least 2.
• Age between 40-60 years.
• Knee pain for at least 6 months.
• A minimum pain score of 3 on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).

You may not qualify if:

• Acute inflammation.
• Total Knee Replacement (TKR) surgery.
• Any lumbar spine disease (disc herniation or lumbar stenosis).
• Intra-articular injection.
• Recent tibia or femur fracture.
• Any systemic inflammatory arthritic condition or neurological condition (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis or stroke).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Faisalabad: lead

Study Sites (1)

The university of Faisalabad

Faisalābad, Punjab Province, 3800, Pakistan

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Osteoarthritis; Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Arthritis; Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Rheumatic Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Lecturer, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 23, 2026
• First Posted: July 17, 2026
• Study Start: December 25, 2025
• Primary Completion: May 12, 2026
• Study Completion: May 25, 2026
• Last Updated: July 17, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)