Article

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of electromyographic biofeedback training
and electrical stimulation therapy for rehabilitation following arthroscopic
partial meniscectomy. DESIGN: Randomized, prospective, controlled single-blind
trial. Setting: Department of physical medicine and rehabilitation, university
hospital. SUBJECTS: Forty-five patients who had undergone surgery for
arthroscopic partial meniscectomy were randomly divided into three groups with 15
patients in each group. Interventions: The control group had home exercise, the
second and third groups received electromyographic biofeedback training or
electrical stimulation therapy to quadriceps muscle in addition to home exercise.
MAIN MEASURES: The patients were evaluated for: visual analogue scale, gait
velocity (m/s), time using a walking aid after surgery, Lysholm Knee Scoring
Scale score, knee flexion-extension angle, maximum and average contraction powers
of vastus medialis obliquus and vastus lateralis muscles on the day before the
operation and two and six weeks after. RESULTS: The time using a walking aid was
8.3 +/- 8.0, 1.5 +/- 2.5 and 4.5 +/- 5.5 days, respectively, for the home
exercise, electromyographic biofeedback training and electrical stimulation
groups, and significantly shorter in the electromyographic biofeedback training
than in the home exercise group (P < 0.017). While significant progress was
detected in Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale score in the second and sixth
postoperative weeks compared to the preoperative within-group evaluation for each
of the three groups (P < 0.017), there was significant difference in Lysholm Knee
Scoring Scale in the second postoperative week in favour of electromyographic
biofeedback training compared to home exercise (P < 0.017). There were
significant differences in vastus medialis obliquus average and vastus lateralis
maximum and average contractions in favour of electromyographic biofeedback
compared to home exercise and electrical stimulation in the second postoperative
week (P < 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of electromyographic biofeedback
training to a conventional exercise programme following arthroscopic partial
meniscectomy helps to speed up the rehabilitation process.

Langue : ANGLAIS