Muscle energy techniques after total hip replacement

Maria Mazepa, Renata Szczepaniak, Wojciech Kiebzak,
Zofia Śliwińska, Zbigniew Śliwiński

M. Mazepa, R. Szczepaniak, W. Kiebzak, Z. Śliwińska, Z. Śliwiński – Muscle energy techniques after total hip replacement. FP 2014; 14(1); 18-26

Abstract

Introduction.  Surgical procedure involving total hip alloplasty is a common consequence of the absence of progress of rehabilitation in patients with significant degenerative lesions accompanied by severe pain and significantly limited mobility. An individual program for patient rehabilitation is established during the first 24 hours after the procedure. This is of particular importance as proper planning and implementation of physiotherapy allows to relieve pain and to achieve full functional joint mobility as well as to strengthen the muscles. We make sure that the proper muscle control and stability within the joint will restore patient’s locomotion and self-care both at the initial and later stages of rehabilitation. There are many ways and methods to improve the above mentioned parameters. Muscle energy techniques, which represent a non-invasive therapy in patients with total hip replacement, are one of these methods. These techniques, including poizometric relaxation of contracted muscles as well as active relaxation of hip joint muscles, myofascial techniques, also in combination with elements of PNF techniques, allow for effective treatment and rehabilitation of patients. Aim. The aim of the study was to compare the effects of standard physiotherapy in patients after cemented hip arthroplasty with those of physiotherapy using muscle energy techniques.
Materials and Methods. A total of 66 patients with advanced degenerative arthritis of the hip, who received surgical treatment in the form of endoprosthetics, were qualified for the study between 2013 and 2014. The patients were divided into two groups  (group I and II), 33 subjects each. Pain level, the range of hip motion as well as muscle strength were assessed in each patient. Group I received muscle energy techniques, including poizometric relaxation of muscles, active muscle relaxation and elements of PNF method. Also, myofascial techniques targeting muscles with different strengths and direction of pressure were used. Group II received standard physiotherapy.
Results. Significant improvement of pain, an increase in the range of functional motion as well as a significant improvement of muscle control of the joint were observed in the group receiving muscle energy treatment, which had beneficial effects on the locomotion of patients.
Conclusions. Muscle energy techniques had significant effects on the improvement of muscle function and stabilization in the pelvic girdle of the joint with endoprosthesis. Poizometric relaxation combined with elements of the PNF method as well as myofascial techniques effectively improved balance, coordination and gait pattern. In conclusion, physiotherapy using muscle energy techniques was shown to be a more effective method in the treatment of hip osteoarthritis as compared to the method based on standard rehabilitation program.

Key words:
arthroplasty, rehabilitation, muscle energy techniques

Pobierz/Download/下載/Cкачиваете 免費下載(僅限英文版)