Outcome of early rehabilitation with continous passive motion for patients recovering from surgical reconstruction of the knee due to degenerative changes. A preliminary report

Magdalena Wilk, Bogusław Frańczuk, Rafał Trąbka, Wojciech Szwarczyk

Magdalena Wilk, Bogusław Frańczuk, Rafał Trąbka, Wojciech Szwarczyk – Outcome of early rehabilitation with continous passive motion for patients recovering from surgical reconstruction of the knee due to degenerative changes. A preliminary report. Fizjoterapia Polska 2004; 4(2); 163-166

Abstract

Background. Due to the increasing number of surgical knee constructions, there is a constant search for new solutions in surgical techniques and rehabilitation methods. The goal of rehabilitation is to enable the patient to return to normal activities of daily living and recover functional independence as soon as possible. Continuous passive motion (CPM) is one of the methods currently used for patients recovering from surgical reconstruction of the knee. Material and methods. Our research involved 60 patients who had received total endoprostheses due to degenerative changes in the knee, divided at random into two groups. Both groups received the same rehabilitation program except for CPM, which was applied only in group I. All patients were examined twice (before and after surgery) to measure body mass, range of movement in the knee joints (using a Sanders digital inclinometer), and muscle strength in the femoral quadriceps. Results. The outcome was more favorable in group I, where CPM was used, both in terms of the average range of movement and on the VAS scale. The patients in group I also reported greater satisfaction. CPM applied in early rehabilitation for this patients accelerates the recovery process. Conclusions. The introduction of CPM in the early post-surgery period contributes to shortening recover time, increases the range of movement in the operated knee, reduces pain and tension in soft tissues, facilitates healing, and accelerates the resorption of hematomas.

Key words:
total endoprosthesis, range of movement, muscle strength
Invalid download ID. Pobierz bezpłatnie artykuł w j. angielskim

The influence of systematic physiotherapy on upper limb function in post-mastectomy women

Ewa Puszczałowska-Lizis, Paweł Lizis

Ewa Puszczałowska-Lizis, Paweł Lizis – The influence of systematic physiotherapy on upper limb function in post-mastectomy women. Fizjoterapia Polska 2011; 11(1); 41-48

Abstract
The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effect of physiotherapy on upper limb function in post-mastectomy women. Thirty-three women attending the Amazons Post-Mastectomy Women’s Club at the Holy Cross Cancer Centre in Kielce were examined on two occasions at three months’ interval. The participants were divided into Group I of 15 patients regularly attending rehabilitation and Group II of 18 patients practicing rehabilitation occasionally. Bilateral measurement of the angular range of motion in the shoulder was the basic method of assessment. A shoulder range of motion of the upper limb on the operated side smaller by more than 10° in relation to the opposite limb was regarded as ROM limitation. Upper limb circumferences were also measured at 10 cm above and below the lateral humeral epicondyle and in the central metacarpus excluding the thumb to an accuracy of 1 mm. Circumferences of the upper limb on the operated side greater by more than 2 cm compared to the opposite limb were regarded as lymphoedema. Our evaluation of statistical significance of correlations between qualitative parameters (influence of rehabilitation on limitation of the shoulder range of motion and incidence of lymphoedema) relied on the non-parametric Chi-square test (χ²).There was a statistically significant correlation between regular rehabilitation practice and the shoulder range of motion and persistence of upper limb lymphoedema on the mastectomy side.Physiotherapy improves ROM and effectively prevents deterioration of upper limb lymphoedema in post-mastectomy women.
Key words:
breast cancer, mastectomy, shoulder joint, range of motion, lymphoedema
Invalid download ID. Pobierz bezpłatnie artykuł w j. angielskim
1 2