Quadriceps muscle strength recovery with the use of high tone power therapy after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: There are no scientific reports clearly describing the effectiveness of the High Tone Power Therapy in patients after ACL reconstruction. This caused that in own research an attempt was made to present the possibilities of using the selected method of electrical stimulation in the treatment of an orthopaedic patient. The aim was to assess the effectiveness of electro stimulation of the quadriceps muscle in patients after ACL reconstruction, with the use of High Tone Power Therapy. METHODS: In randomized controlled trial took part thirty-five men, aged 21-50, after ACL reconstruction. The tests were carried prior to and 6 months following the ACL reconstruction. After the surgery, the patients were randomly divided into experimental group (17 patients) with the High Tone Power Therapy in rehabilitation and control group (18 patients) without the High Tone Power Therapy. Patients were subjected to 6-month rehabilitation. Research tools included the measurement of muscle strength torque, ROM, knee and thigh circumference measurements, the Lysholm and the VAS scale. RESULTS: After applying HiToP, the analysis showed a statistically significant improvement of muscle torque (p = 0.041, Es = 3.71), knee circumference (p = 0.039, Es = 1.65), thigh circumference (p = 0.049, Es = 1.26), knee extension (p < 0.001, Es = 2.20) in Experimental group compared to the control group. Only the results of the VAS scale did not differ statistically significantly both within a given group and between groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm the hypothesis that the use of HiToP in patients after ACLr have a beneficial effect on muscle strength, reduction of joint effusion, muscle mass gain and joint function. The assumption that HiToP significantly reduces pain levels is not supported - the results in both groups are statistically insignificant. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The research project was retrospectively registered in the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR). Date of first registration 11.10.2016. Registration number: ACTRN12616001416482 .

The use of an alternating magnetic field in the resorption of postoperative joint effusion following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A randomized double-blind controlled trial.

CONTEXT: There are no scientific reports unambiguously describing the efficacy of alternating magnetic field therapy in patients after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in the early postoperative period. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of using an alternating magnetic field in the resorption of postoperative joint effusion in patients after ACL reconstruction. STUDY DESIGN: A randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study. SETTING: Inpatients. PARTICIPANTS: Forty patients were enrolled in the trial. However, the final study group consisted of 38 patients (28 men and 10 women) after ACL reconstruction who were randomly divided into an experimental group (19 patients) and a control group (19 patients). INTERVENTION: Each group received magnetic field therapy in the postoperative period, but only 1 apparatus emitted a magnetic field (the experimental group). Patients used the apparatus every day for 30 minutes for the next 11 days. The parameters in both devices were the same-3 mT and 10 Hz. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The measurement of the knee circumference and range of motion were made. The knee circumference measurement was performed before magnetic field therapy began and for 11 days after magnetic field treatment. The active knee range of motion was evaluated before and after magnetic field therapy was completed. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in the reduction of post-operative joint effusion or knee joint function. CONCLUSION: In patients after ACL reconstruction, in whom an alternating magnetic field was used to treat postoperative joint effusion, there were no beneficial effects on the analyzed variables compared to the control group.

Does kinesiotaping can improve static stability of the knee after anterior cruciate ligament rupture? A randomized single-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was the assessment of the early impact of the selected kinesiotaping technique on the static stability of the knee joint in patients with ACL rupture on the basis of stabilographic parameters. METHODS: Sixty-two patients with a complete ACL rupture (32 patients in experimental group and 30 patients in placebo group) took part in the randomized single-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The ligament technique of KT was taken into consideration. Application of a KT tape only on the injured knee was to stabilize the knee joint. Experimental group had application of KT on the injured knee and the placebo group had a KT placebo application (with no tension on KT). Intervention and stabilographic test in both groups was the same. Research tools included measurements of static stabilographic parameters on stabilometric platform CQStab2P®. Outcome measures were assessed before intervention and after KT application. The analysis included evaluation of outcome variables - total path length, (SP), statokinesiogram path length in the XY axes (SPML, SPAP), and mean velocities in the XY axes (MV, MVML, MVAP). RESULTS: The results show a statistically significant shortening of the SP, SPAP and SPML variables only in experimental group. In the placebo group the results were not significant. The analysis also showed a significant improvement in all analyzed variables in the experimental group compared to the healthy side. In the placebo group, the results did not improve significantly after KT application compared to the healthy side. CONCLUSIONS: Application o f KT in patients after ACL rupture shortened the total path length and improved the value of parameters in the frontal and sagittal planes in experimental group, which may suggest the potentially greater improvement in these parameters. By improving the values of the analyzed variables, the KT application is able to compensate for the loss of static stability of the knee. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered retrospectively in the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR). Registration number: ACTRN12616001407482 .

Biomechanical image of the knee motion in patients with chronic anterior instability of the knee joint before and after Kinesio Taping.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In the available literature there are no reports on the effectiveness of Kinesio Taping (KT) in the conservative treatment of patients with anterior instability of the knee. The purpose of the present research was to evaluate the influence of the selected KT technique in limiting the anterior translation of the tibia by performing a biomechanical analysis of the gait cycle of patients with anterior instability of the knee. METHODS: A total of 31 patients qualified for the single group study. In all patients, a total tear of the anterior cruciate ligament was diagnosed. The research tool was a three-dimensional motion analysis BTS SMART system. The effectiveness of KT of the knee with an anterior cruciate ligament tear was assessed based on angular changes in the movement of the knee in three planes of motion during specific phases of the gait cycle. RESULTS: The results show that KT does not significantly affect angular values of the knee joint in the sagittal and transverse planes of the affected and healthy limb during selected phases of the gait cycle. CONCLUSIONS: Due to only observed changes in the frontal plane, the KT method should be modified to also improve knee function in other planes.

Stabilometric indicators as an element of verifying rehabilitation of patients before and after reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to evaluate effectiveness of rehabilitation in patients before and after rACL, based on stabilographic indicators. METHODS: The research group was comprised of 31 men aged 20-57 with anterior cruciate ligament injury, qualified for reconstruction surgery. A measurement of static stabilometric indicators and muscle strength was taken twice for each patient - before surgery and after 6 months. To assess stabilographic indicators the stabilographic platform was used and to asses muscle strength a dynamometer was used. In order to assess knee function the Lysholm scale and VAS scale were used. RESULTS: The rehabilitation programme improved static stability of the knee in the frontal plane, which is manifested by a significant shortening of the SPML path length. Rehabilitation proceedings should focus on improving static stability of the knee joint in the sagittal plane, because the results obtained indicate only a slight shortening of the SPAP length. The results of the Lysholm and VAS scales point to a positive influence of the applied rehabilitation. CONCLUSION: Inclusion into rehabilitation diagnostic tools to assess stabilometric indicators enables for effective verification of rehabilitation proceedings focused on restoring body posture control before and after the rACL.

[Effectiveness and safety of intra-articular use of hyaluronic acid (Suplasyn I-Shot) in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis]. / Skutecznosc dzialania i bezpieczenstwo preparatu Suplasyn 1-Shot w leczeniu choroby zwyrodnieniowej stawów kolanowych.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the leading causes of disability in the elderly. The changes in the lubricating properties of synovial fluid lead to significant pain and loss of function. Viscosupplementation, in which hyaluronic acid (HA) is injected into the knee joint, has evolved into an important part of our current therapeutic regimen in addressing the patient with knee pain due to OA. Intra-articular HA has proven to be an effective, safe, and tolerable treatment for symptomatic knee OA. In an effort to limit cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and renal safety concerns with COX-2 selective and nonselective NSAIDs and maximize HA efficacy, it is even proposed using HA earlier in the treatment paradigm for knee OA and also as part of a comprehensive treatment strategy. Our study reconfirmed effectiveness and safety of intra-articular use of hyaluronic acid (Suplasyn) in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

[Locked posterior shoulder dislocation]. / Tylne zastarzale zwichniecie stawu ramiennego.

Posterior shoulder dislocations are diagnosed rarely in every-day practice. Although the methods of radiological imaging have been developing and becoming commonly available, the cases of late diagnosis are still happening. Proper clinical examination and properly conducted and interpretated radiographs allow for identification and implementation of appropriate medical procedures. In spite of fact that such cases are identified expectionally rarely, a few types of procedural have been analised and numerous therapeutic methods have been described. The choice of an appropriate treatment is complicated and requires in-depth theoretical knowledge as well as the knowledge of specific conditions within the shoulder surgery. Based on an algorithm, proposed by Griggs, between 2000-2006 seven patients with locked posterior instability were treated, for all of them defect of the proximal humerus did not exceed 30%. In all these cases the goals of improving stability and range of motion were obtained.