Immediate Effect of Mobilization with Movement on Squat Self-reported Functional Ability, Pain Intensity, and Pain-free Range of Motion in People with Knee Osteoarthritis

Inclusion Criteria: * male or female; * aged over 45 years; * clinically diagnosed with symptomatic unilateral KOA, classified as grade 1-3 according to the Kellgren and Lawrence system; * fulfilled the classification criteria of the American College of Rheumatology for KOA; * reported frequent episodes of pain in the knee joint during sit-to-stand movements for at least 3 months. Exclusion Criteria: * had KOA secondary to rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory and autoimmune conditions; * reported lumbar pain radiating to the knee or lumbar pain as the primary complaint; * had a history of knee or lower limb surgery; * had a systemic or local infection; * had received an intra-articular corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid injection within the past 6 months; * reported current or past (within 4 weeks) oral corticosteroid use; * had any condition in the lower limbs that would prevent performing the deep squat test; * had clinical conditions in which manual therapy is generally contraindicated (such as fracture, osteoporosis, instability, infectious arthritis, tumors, joint ankylosis, acute inflammatory disorders, or lack of a diagnosed joint lesion).