Abstract
A 78-year-old female patient with a medical diagnosis of primary osteoarthritis of the right knee was seen for student physical therapy treatment for 17 sessions over an 11-week period at an outpatient physical therapy clinic under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. The patient was evaluated at the initial encounter with the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, accessory and physiological joint motions, gait observation, goniometry, muscle length tests, manual muscle tests, and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Activities of Daily Living Function Subscale. A plan of care was established to address pain, gait deviations, range of motion, muscle length, strength, and limitations in functional ability. The main goals for the patient were to relieve the knee pain, strengthen muscles to reduce the pressure on the knee, and care for her home without pain.
The main interventions used were manual therapy and therapeutic exercises designed to improve gait, range of motion, muscle length, strength, and functional ability. The patient had fair to good tolerance with the interventions and demonstrated an overall improvement during gait, increases in range of motion, muscle length, strength, and functional abilities. The patient continued physical therapy care to maximize her ability to perform various activities of daily living after the student physical therapist completed his clinical rotation and was expected to be discharged home with a home exercise program.