Effectiveness of Stanley Paris Manual Therapy vs. Conventional Physiotherapy in Reducing Pain and Improving Function in Grade II Knee Osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative joint disorder that causes pain, stiffness, and loss of mobility, often leading to functional limitations and reduced quality of life. In Grade II OA, cartilage damage is moderate and potentially reversible through appropriate rehabilitation strategies. This stage offers an important opportunity for physiotherapy interventions to restore function and delay further joint deterioration. The Stanley Paris Manual Therapy Concept emphasizes a biomechanical and hands-on approach to rehabilitation. It includes joint mobilization, soft tissue manipulation, neural mobilization, and correction of faulty movement patterns to restore normal joint motion and neuromuscular control. In contrast, Conventional Physiotherapy typically focuses on pain management using electrotherapy modalities, strengthening exercises, and general mobility training. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) is designed to compare the effectiveness of these two treatment approaches in individuals with Grade II knee osteoarthritis. Fifty participants will be randomly allocated into two equal groups: one receiving the Stanley Paris manual therapy and the other receiving conventional physiotherapy, for a period of 6-8 weeks. Standardized assessment tools - including the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) for function and quality of life, and the Berg Balance Scale for proprioception and stability - will be used to evaluate outcomes at baseline, mid-intervention, and post-intervention. The study will generate clinical evidence on whether manual therapy provides superior outcomes in terms of pain relief, functional improvement, and patient satisfaction compared to conventional physiotherapy. Results are expected to assist clinicians in developing more effective rehabilitation protocols for managing knee osteoarthritis and improving patients' independence and overall well-being.