Background

Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder due to factor VIII or IX deficiency, leading to recurrent joint bleeds and arthropathy. The knee is most often affected, causing pain, limited mobility, and disability. Physiotherapy is a key adjunct to manage complications and improve quality of life.

Aims

To assess the effectiveness of quadriceps strengthening and physiotherapy in reducing pain and improving range of motion (ROM) in hemophilic knee arthropathy.

Material and methods

A pre–post interventional study was conducted on 300 males with hemophilia. Interventions included isometric quadriceps exercises, patellar mobilisation, resistance training, balance and gait training, and static cycling, performed twice daily for 30 minutes, five days a week for six months. Outcomes were measured with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain and goniometric ROM before and after intervention

Results

Mean age was 32.1 ± 11.6 years (range 5–65); 36.7% were 20–40 years. Mean ROM improved from 27.6° ± 11.6 to 15.0° ± 7.03 (p < 0.001), and pain scores (VAS) decreased from 39.3 ± 14.2 to 12.6 ± 13.0 (p < 0.001), demonstrating significant functional improvement.

Conclusions

Quadriceps strengthening and physiotherapy significantly reduce pain and improve joint function in hemophilic knee arthropathy. Incorporating rehabilitation into routine care may prevent disability and enhance quality of life in persons with hemophilia (PwH).