Comparison of the Effect of Genicular Nerve Block and Physical Therapy in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis

Phase

N/A

Condition

Knee Injuries

Osteoarthritis

Treatment

Group 3: Exercise group

Group 1: GNB (GENICULAR NERVOUS NERVOUS BLOCK) group:

Group 2: PT (PHYSICAL THERAPY) group

Clinical Study ID

NCT06903936

2024/471

Ages 40-70
All Genders

Study Summary

Knee arthritis is a chronic joint disease that causes pain, disability and impaired quality of life, leading to significant social and health problems worldwide. Moreover, these public and economic impacts related to osteoarthritis of the knee are expected to increase in the future. With the global increase in the proportion of the elderly population, overall obesity rates and the associated incidence of osteoarthritis of the knee, clinicians are now focusing on new treatment strategies. The diagnosis is usually made by history, physical examination and radiography (X-ray) and there is no need for additional examination.

Today, both non-surgical and surgical interventions are used in the treatment of knee arthritis. Non-surgical options include patient education, weight loss, physical therapy (PT), support or foot orthosis, oral painkillers, non-cortisol anti-inflammatory drugs, cortisols, hyaluronic acid, plasma injections rich in platelets, prolotherapy, stem cell therapy and genicular nerve blocks.

The aim of the study was to compare the benefits of genicular nerve block and physical therapy in volunteers with knee pain for more than 3 months like you and to determine the most appropriate method.

In this study, Genicular nerve block and Physical therapy in patients with knee arthritis;

Effects on knee pain, mobility and functional ability
It is aimed to examine the effects on equilibrium parameters.

A total of 66 participants will be included in the study. Participants will be randomly assigned to three groups by envelope selection method. Your treatment method will be determined according to the treatment method in the envelope you choose.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

INCLUSION CRITERIA

Being between forty and seventy years old
Kellgren-Lawrence grade two-thee radiological osteoarthritis
Knee pain for at least three months
Those who consented to participate in the study according to the informed consent form

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

Pregnancy
Malignancy
Epilepsy
History of cardiac pacemaker
Those who have received glucocorticosteriod, hyaluronic acid, PRP, Genicular block injection in the last six months
Those who received physical therapy in the last six months
Those taking oral glucosamine in the last six months
Anticoagulant use
History of systemic inflammatory disease
History of fracture and surgery in the lower extremity
Open wounds on the knees
History of systemic infection in the patient
Inability of the patient to cooperate
History of neuromuscular disease affecting balance parameters
Patient's unwillingness to participate in the study

Study Design

Group 3: Exercise group

May 01, 2025

September 01, 2026

Study Description

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a chronic joint disease that causes pain, disability and impaired quality of life, leading to significant social and health problems worldwide. Moreover, these public and economic impacts related to KOA are expected to increase in the future. With the global increase in the proportion of the elderly population, overall obesity rates and the associated incidence of KOA, clinicians are now focusing on new treatment strategies.

Currently, both non-surgical and surgical interventions are used to treat KOA. Non-surgical options include patient education, self-management strategies, weight loss, physical therapy (PT), brace or foot orthosis, oral analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, hyaluronic acid, platelet-rich plasma injections, prolotherapy stem cell therapy and genicular nerve blocks, all aimed at relieving pain, improving function and delaying the need for surgery. PT is an established and evidence-based treatment option for reducing pain and improving function in KOA.

Through the use of PT modalities such as thermal therapies, therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulation and laser therapy, which are known to modulate inflammation, are known to have an impact on pain, function and quality of life. On the other hand, genicular nerve block (GNB) is a recently developed treatment option for KOA that targets the three sensory nerves of the knee (superior lateral, superior medial and inferior medial genicular nerve) to block pain transmission to the central nervous system. Only a few studies have been conducted using GNB in patients with chronic KOA, demonstrating a reduction in pain and improvement in knee function. Eventually, GNB gained popularity in rheumatology to modulate inflammation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Studies investigating different methods of application of GNB in chronic KOA, namely ultrasound-guided and fluoroscopy-guided GNB, reported no difference in treatment efficacy between the two methods. However, Kim et al. reported that ultrasound is more suitable for imaging because it does not require radiation exposure.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of genicular nerve block and physical therapy on knee pain, mobility, functional ability and balance parameters in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and to investigate whether they are superior to the control group.

Connect with a study center

Ahi Evran University Hospital
Kirsehir, 40100
Turkey
Active - Recruiting
Kirsehir Ahi Evran University Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Hospital
Kirşehi̇r, 40100
Turkey
Active - Recruiting

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