Participants
tumor, OA, fever, cancer, paresthesia, knee osteoarthritis, knee pain
INFECTIOUS DISEASES, TUMOR, COAGULATION DISORDERS, CANCER, PARESTHESIA, KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS
The sample size estimation required in the present study was computed in a G*Power 3.1.7 program. The sample size was calculated based on a pilot result, which indicated a minimal level of detectable change for the self-paced walking time test. The calculated effect size was 0.8 (medium to large effect size). Therefore, at least 46 participants were required to achieve an 80% statistical power with an alpha level of 0.05 for a dependent mean study design.A total of 48 knee osteoarthritis participants were screened and recruited from the university hospital and local orthopedic clinics. The inclusion criteria included (1) knee OA patients diagnosed by orthopedic surgeons in both genders (aged between 50 and 80 years old) with K-L radiologic scale grades 2 and 3, (2) experiencing knee pain ≥ 3 on the visual analog scale (VAS, ranging from 0 to 10), (3) able to walk on level ground and able to climb stairs without an assistive device or assistant, and (4) not enrolled in intensive exercise or rehabilitation programs. The exclusion criteria included (1) acute infectious diseases, (2) abnormal blood pressure or fever, (3) tumor or cancer patients, (4) pregnant, (5) special abnormalities or paresthesia, (6) coagulation disorders, (7) implantable devices such as pacemakers or EKG machines, and (8) previous surgery in the knee or hip with total or partial prosthesis of the knees or hips. The CONSORT flowchart of the study is summarized and shown in Fig. CONSORT flowchart of the study.