Evaluating the Effectiveness of Soft Tissue Therapy in the Treatment of Disorders and Postoperative Conditions of the Knee Joint—A Systematic Review

Abstract

The term “soft tissue therapy” (STT) refers to mechanical methods of treatment involving passive kneading, pressing and stretching of pathologically tense tissues in supporting the process of recovery after surgery or trauma to the musculoskeletal system. The objective of this study was to review current scientific reports evaluating the effectiveness of the use of STT in patients with diseases or after surgical procedures of the knee joint. A systematic search of the popular scientific databases PubMed, Scopus and Embase was performed from inception to 15 October 2021. Eight articles met eligibility criteria and were included in the review. Six papers were related to disorders of the knee joint, while the remaining two studies were related to dysfunctions associated with the conditions after surgical intervention. The findings presented confirmed the effectiveness of STT in orthopaedic patients who showed an increase in lower limb functional parameters. The research has shown that the use of various methods of STT has a significant impact on increasing muscle activity and flexibility as well as increasing the range of motion in the knee joint. The physiotherapeutic methods used had a significant impact on reducing pain and increasing physical function and quality of life. The techniques used reduced the time to descend stairs in patients with knee osteoarthritis. This review summarises the effectiveness of STT as an important form of treatment for orthopaedic patients with various knee joint dysfunctions.

Effect of Manual Therapy on Musculoskeletal Injury Rehabilitation: Pain Modulation and Range of Motion Restoration

“…Soft tissue technique is a form of manual therapy that targets the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia surrounding the joint using mechanical treatment methods like massage, myofascial release, and trigger point release [9] . Through the passive manipulation of tense tissues to restore the normal function of the soft tissue and promote overall mobility of the body.…”

Consumer Perceptions of Home-Based Percussive Massage Therapy for Musculoskeletal Concerns: Inductive Thematic Qualitative Analysis

“…Vibration therapy is said to elicit its therapeutic impact on muscle fibers and proprioception, with health outcomes demonstrating improvements in elasticity, mobility, lymphatic and blood circulation, and swelling [ 11 ]. Soft tissue, a common modality of conventional massage, has shown similar health benefits with regard to improvements in circulation, range of motion, and muscle relaxation [ 12 , 13 ]. Its suggested mechanism of action involves reducing friction between fascial layers, improving muscle fiber patterns, and reducing the buildup of abnormal hyaluronic acid molecules in implicated regions [ 13 ].…”

“…Soft tissue, a common modality of conventional massage, has shown similar health benefits with regard to improvements in circulation, range of motion, and muscle relaxation [12,13]. Its suggested mechanism of action involves reducing friction between fascial layers, improving muscle fiber patterns, and reducing the buildup of abnormal hyaluronic acid molecules in implicated regions [13]. In combining these approaches, percussive therapy has been postulated to promote biomechanical and molecular functioning by improving circulation and lymphatic flow, increasing range of motion, and reducing pain perception and adhesions [8,10].…”