Magnetotherapy Versus Microwave Combined With Exercise for Knee Osteoarthritis.

The VARIMAG-4E magnetotherapy device will be used. It is a pulsed radiofrequency energy device. The device has a voltage of 220V, 4 amps of intensity, 50 Hz of frequency and a maximum power of 100 Gauss. For the active treatment application, the patient will be in supine position and will introduce both knees in the 50 cm coil in case of bilateral knee osteoarthritis. In the case of unilateral knee osteoarthritis, the affected knee will be introduced in the 30cm coil. The duration of the treatment will be 20 minutes, the frequency administered will be 50 Hz and a power of 100 Gauss.

The application of deep heating therapy will be with the patient in a sitting position. The VARITRON 250-EP microwave device will be used with a frequency of 2450 MHz and a maximum output power of 250W. In the case of unilateral knee osteoarthritis, the circular applicator with a diameter of 170mm will be placed approximately 15 cm from the knee. The duration of the session will be 20 minutes, 10 minutes over the internal face and 10 minutes over the external face of the knee. In the case of bilateral knee osteoarthritis, the large lumbar applicator will be placed approximately 15 cm from the anterosuperior face of both knees for 20 minutes. The patient will have to perceive a moderate heat sensation.

The protocol and device will be the same in the active/placebo treatment. The sham device does not emit an electromagnetic field. The energy from the active device is not felt by the user, and the active device cannot be distinguished in any way from the placebo device.