Application of high frequency currents in treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis

Agnieszka Przedborska, Ewa Pomorska, Marcin Świątczak, Małgorzata Staniszewska, Małgorzata Misztal, Jan W. Raczkowski

A. Przedborska, E. Pomorska, M. Świątczak, M. Staniszewska, M. Misztal, J. W. Raczkowski – Application of high frequency currents in treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis. Fizjoterapia Polska 2018; 18(4); 112-121

Abstract
Introduction. Endogenous heat is widely used in the treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis. The development of technology enables new methods of applying high frequency currents.
The purpose of the work is to assess the effectiveness of high frequency currents applied by various methods in the treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis.
Material and methods. The study was conducted on a group of 111 patients with knee osteoarthritis, of which two groups were distinguished. The studied group consisted of 61 patients subjected to high-frequency therapy using the Thermo TK device. The control group consisted of 50 patients who underwent shortwave diathermy treatment. Assessment of the effectiveness of therapy was carried out on the basis of the VAS scale, Laitinen scale, perimeter and range of motion in the knee joint.
Results. Both groups displayed a statistically significant (p <0.0001) reduction in pain after the therapy according to the Laitinen scale (median (interquartile range IQR), respectively before and after the treatment: in the study group: 7 (6-8) scores vs. 3 (2-6) scores and in the control group: 8 (6-10) scores vs. 3.5 (2-7) scores). In addition, a statistically significant (p = 0.0031) reduction in the frequency of analgesics was observed in the study group. After treatment, in each of the groups, statistically significant (p <0.0001) alleviation of pain symptoms according to the VAS scale was also observed while walking on a flat surface and stairs. Circumference through the knee joint was also decreased (p <0.0001), while the extent of the bending movement significantly increased (p <0.0001). The duration of the analgesic effect in both groups was similar.
Conclusions. 1. Regardless of the type of application, high frequency currents reduce pain and improve the range of knee joint motion in patients with osteoarthritis. 2. The analgesic effect of the therapy in both groups was not permanent.

Key words:
knee joints, degenerative disease, high frequency currents

 

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Efficacy of selected physiotherapeutic procedures in the treatment of lumbar spine pain

Tomasz Miśkiewicz, Zbigniew Dudkiewicz, Robert Irzmański, Katarzyna Michalak, Elżbieta Poziomska-Piątkowska

Tomasz Miśkiewicz, Zbigniew Dudkiewicz, Robert Irzmański, Katarzyna Michalak, Elżbieta Poziomska-Piątkowska – Efficacy of selected physiotherapeutic procedures in the treatment of lumbar spine pain. Fizjoterapia Polska 2018; 18(3); 12-28

Abstract
Aim of the study. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of selected sets of physiotherapeutic procedures for pain in the lumbosacral segment caused by degenerative disease.
Materials and Methods. The study involved 45 patients with pain syndromes within the lumbosacral spine, who underwent a series of physiotherapy treatments. The subjects were divided into four groups. Three groups were divided depending on the applied sets of physiotherapy treatments, while the fourth group (comparative) were those taking only non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for the duration of a series of treatments in the remaining groups. The patients were examined using the questionnaire of their own questionnaire, the SF-36 questionnaire (vol.2) of the short questionnaire version (Poland version), Lovett test, Laitinen scale and diagnostic tests (Laseque, Bragard, Thomayer). The tests were carried out immediately before the treatment series and two weeks after its completion.
Results. The subjects were aged 45-65. 71.1% were women and 28.9% were men. 13.3% of people were physically active. Spinal osteoarthritis was the cause of pain in all patients participating in the study. In the research group, a statistically significant difference was found between the results of the severity of pain, the level of muscle strength and the quality of life measured before physiotherapy and 2 weeks after its completion. In 90% of people participating in the procedures, an increase in muscle strength was obtained, whereas in the control group only in 6%. The improvement of the ranges of mobility in the discussed section of the spine concerned 46.6% of the subjects participating in the treatment series. In the comparison group, none of the patients improved their range of motion.
Conclusions. Physiotherapeutic treatments have a positive effect on the reduction of pathological symptoms of the lumbosacral spine. They have a positive effect on improving the quality of life, muscle strength, ranges of mobility and reducing or completely removing pain. Regardless of the applied set of physiotherapeutic treatments, they worked better than the intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs by patients.

Key words:
physiotherapy, degenerative disease, lumbosacral segment, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

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