Comprehensive physical therapy on arthroifbrosis following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction:report of 30 cases
LIU Li-kun
CAI Bin
YUE Bing
JIANG Xin
FAN Shuai
LU Shen-ji
Abstract：Objective To evaluate the clinical possibility and results of the comprehensive physical therapy on arthroifbrosis following anterior cruciate ligament ( ACL ) reconstruction.Methods The 30 patients with arthroifbrosis following ACL reconstruction in the outpatient clinic from Feb. 2014 to Jun. 2015 were included in the study. They were treated by Kaltenborn manual mobilization of the joints. The distal femur was ifxed on the treatment table, continuous traction was performed along the longitudinal axis of the tibial diaphysis, and the tibia was pushed backward from the femur on the tibial tuberosity, which were aided by interferential current therapy, ultrasound, wax therapy and mobilization of soft tissues. After the manual therapy, the patients did some exercises under the guidance, including lower limb strength and stability and balance training. The knee was treated with ice compress in the end. The treatment was continued for 12 weeks, 3 times a week and once every 2 days. Before the treatment and 4 and 12 weeks after the treatment, the maximum active range of motion ( ROM ) scale, visual analogue scale ( VAS ) ( 0 - 10 points ) and hospital for special surgery ( HSS ) score were used to evaluate the function of the knee. All the patients were followed up for 1 year. SPSS 19.0 statistical software package was used for data processing. The data were compared before and after the treatment with repeated-measures single factor analysis of variance and chi-square test.Results The ROM scores were ( 69.8 ± 15.1 ) °, ( 88.3 ± 13.9 ) ° and ( 103.0 ± 10.1 ) ° before the treatment and at 4 and 12 weeks after the treatment. The differences were statistically signiifcant (P < 0.01 ). And at 12 months afterthe treatment, the ROM score was increased to ( 117.3 ± 11.6 ) °. The VAS scores were ( 2.0 ± 1.3 ) points and ( 0.9 ± 0.8 ) points before the treatment and at 4 weeks after the treatment. The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.01 ). And at 12 months after the treatment, the VAS score was 0 points. According to the HSS, the good and excellent rates were 6.7%, 33.3% and 93.3% at 4, 12 and 48 weeks after the treatment. The differences were statistically signiifcant (P < 0.01 ).Conclusions The results indicate that comprehensive physical therapy can help to improve mobility, relieve pain and restore the function of the knee for the patients with arthroifbrosis following ACL reconstruction. Moreover, there are good long-term outcomes.
Keywords：Anterior cruciate ligament reconstructionKnee jointPhysical therapy modalitiesLigamentsarticular
Publication Date：2016-01-01
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：4( 743-746 )