Changes in knee joint thermograms following local cryotherapy combined with various physiotherapy regimens

Magdalena Wilk, Rafał Trąbka, Zbigniew Śliwiński

Magdalena Wilk, Rafał Trąbka, Zbigniew Śliwiński – Changes in knee joint thermograms following local cryotherapy combined with various physiotherapy regimens. Fizjoterapia Polska 2008; 8(3); 267-271

Abstract
Background. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of cryotherapy and physiotherapy regimens in patients with indications for use of these procedures in the knee joint region or knee joints. Material and methods. The study was performed in the Cracow Rehabilitation Centre in 2008. The study involved a group of 38 patients who underwent cryotherapy of the knee joint region. The patients were dMded into two groups. Group 1 included patients who performed lower limb exercises immediately after the cryotherapy procedure, and patients in group 2 performed exercises 30 minutes following the cryotherapy procedure. Changes in thermograms were recorded in all patients. Results. Mean temperature in the affected knee joint before treatment was x=30.19°C in group 1 and 31.46°C in group 2. The differences between the study groups revealed in examination 2 were also not statistically significant. Examination 3 showed signi-ficant differences. The mean value of the temperature range was x=28.54C in Group 1 and 23.38°C in Group 2. The last exami-nation, performed 30 minutes after the completion of the cryogenic therapy procedure, showed a mean temperature of the treated knee joint of x=28.99°C in Group 1 and x=29.43C in Group 2. Conclusions. Tissue temperature in the knee joint region increased at a slower rate in patients who did not undergo kinesi-therapy immediately after cryotherapy of that region.
Key words:
knee joint, cryotherapy, thermovision, physiotherapy
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