Bowen technique with retro-walking to loosen hamstrings in people with knee osteoarthritis
Effects of Bowen Technique With Retro-walking on Hamstring Flexibility in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients
This will test whether Bowen technique combined with retro-walking improves hamstring flexibility, reduces pain, and boosts mobility in adults with mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 36 (estimated) |
| Ages | 40 Years to 60 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Riphah International University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Islamabad, Punjab Province) |
| Trial ID | NCT07238751 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized controlled trial compares a combined Bowen manual-therapy program plus retro-walking to conventional physiotherapy in adults with knee osteoarthritis and bilateral hamstring tightness. Eligible participants are aged 40–60 with Kellgren-Lawrence grade I–II disease, pain for more than three months, VAS >3, and objective hamstring tightness. Outcomes include hamstring flexibility, pain, dynamic mobility, and knee-related disability measured over the treatment period at Shaafi International Hospital in Islamabad. Key exclusions are meniscal or ligamentous injuries, recent intra-articular steroid injection, major comorbidity, pregnancy, recent surgery, or prior regular flexibility programs.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults 40–60 years old with mild-to-moderate (Kellgren-Lawrence I–II) bilateral knee OA who have hamstring tightness, VAS pain >3, and symptoms longer than three months without major comorbidities.
Not a fit: People with advanced OA (Kellgren-Lawrence III–IV), meniscal or ligament injuries, recent steroid injections, significant comorbidity, pregnancy, recent surgery, or current participation in other flexibility programs are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the combined Bowen and retro-walking approach could non-surgically improve hamstring flexibility, reduce pain, and enhance walking mobility and daily function for people with mild-to-moderate knee OA.
How similar studies have performed: Some small physiotherapy and manual-therapy studies report improvements in flexibility and pain with retro-walking and related manual techniques, but high-quality randomized evidence specifically for Bowen technique combined with retro-walking in knee OA is limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 40-60 years * Both gender: male and female * Less than 80-degree hip flexion angle on passive SLR, Active knee extension greater than 20 indicates hamstring muscle tightness * Kellgren and Lawrence classification (stage I and stage II) * Bilateral hamstring tightness * Visual analogue scale value greater than 3 * Pain duration more than 3 months Exclusion Criteria: * Meniscal injury or ligamentous injury * Muscle/tendon injuries of hamstring * Spinal Injuries and any other co- morbidity * Any surgery, infection, trauma, pregnancy, fracture and fall * Involvement in regular flexibility yoga program * Patient with intra articular steroidal therapy with in last 6 months * Patient involvement in another intervention study * Malignancy * Pregnancy
Where this trial is running
Islamabad, Punjab Province
- Shaafi international hospital,ISLAMABAD — Islamabad, Punjab Province, Pakistan (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Kinza Anwar, Ms-Ompt — Riphah International University
- Study coordinator: Kinza Anwar, Ms-Ompt
- Email: kinza.anwar@riphah.edu.pk
- Phone: +92-3239735427
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.