Effects of Low-intensity Pulsed Ultrasound and Cryotherapy on Recovery of Joint Function and C-reactive Protein Levels in Patients after Total Knee Replacement Surgery.


Author: Kang JI1, Kim YN2, Choi H3.

Affiliation: 1Department of Physical Therapy, Sehan University, Republic of Korea. 2Department of Physical Therapy, Nambu University, Republic of Korea. 3Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School of Physical Therapy, Sehan University, Republic of Korea.
Conference/Journal: J Phys Ther Sci. 
Date published: 2014 Jul
Other:
 Volume ID: 26   ,  Issue ID: 7   ,  Pages: 1033-6   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.1589/jpts.26.1033   ,  Word Count: 209  
    Abstract

[Purpose] We investigated the effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound and cryotherapy on joint function recovery and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels of patients with total knee replacement. [Subjects] Forty-six patients with total knee replacement were recruited and allocated to either low-intensity pulsed ultrasound therapy (n=15), cryotherapy (n=15), or a combination of both (n=16). Therapy was administered once a day, 5 times a week for 3 weeks. To determine functional joint recovery and reduction of inflammation, changes in the Korean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (K-WOMAC), range of motion (ROM), and CRP were assessed postsurgically and four times over a 3-week period. Using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), homogeneity tests were performed based on participants' general characteristics. To recognize changes in time-variant K-WOMAC, ROM, and CRP values between groups, repeated measures ANOVA was performed, and Tukey's test was used for post-test analysis. Values at α=0.05 were considered significant. [Results] We found a difference between groups and times, and the group that received the combined therapies showed greater changes in outcomes than the group that received low-intensity pulsed ultrasound therapy alone. [Conclusion] Applying both low-intensity pulsed ultrasound and cryotherapy can relieve inflammation and enhance joint function in patients who undergo total knee replacement.

KEYWORDS:

C-reactive protein; Crytherapy; Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound therapy



PMID: 25140090