Following 12 weeks of treatment procedures performed
by the KIN and US groups, the distance covered
in the 6-MWT increased by 19.8% and 14.1%, respectively.
These improvements in functional exercise capacity
indicate improvements in muscle strength and
aerobic metabolism assuming that patients with knee
OA are often physically deconditioned, interventions, as
performed by current study, potentiate those muscle
adaptations. Wang et al. [45] investigated the effects of
aquatic exercises and land-based exercises for patients
with knee OA and found that the 6-MWT performance
increased by 19 ± 7% and 12 ± 5%, respectively. These
changes were similar to the results found in previous
studies [45,48]. Although these articles have studied different
treatment modes, the results presented here suggest
an improvement in functional exercise capacity and,
consequently, of the quality of life and ability to perform
activities of daily living. In fact, this assertion is supported
by the positive results on the WOMAC and VAS
scores. This improvement in ability to perform physical
effort is very important because physical exercise is considered
a valuable tool to reduce the risk of cardiovascular
and endocrine diseases and to improve bone and
muscle conditioning. These medical conditions may
affect patients with OA due to the high level of inactivity
and body disuse found in these patients. Indeed, this