Influence of Vibroacoustic Therapy on Local Status and Rehabilitation of Post-TKR and Post-THR patients

Abstract

Background. Rehabilitation following major joint replacement surgery is an extremely important part of complementary treatment after the surgical procedure. To obtain the best final treatment outcome possible, apart from improvements in surgical technique, new methods of rehabilitation are still being sought and implemented to increase its effectiveness, safety and patient comfort. One such technique is vibroacoustic therapy, a method of treatment based on the direct transmission of audible sound vibrations through a sound transmitter to the patient’s body. The present study assessed the effectiveness of vibroacoustic therapy in early postoperative rehabilitation of post-TKR and post-THR patients. Material and methods. The study involved 60 post-TKR and post-THR patients divided into two groups depending on the type of surgery. Each group was further divided into an experimental group treated with the VITAFON-2 apparatus and a control group treated with a placebo apparatus; all patients also underwent routine kinesiotherapy that is offered at the hospital. Vibroa­coustic treatment was carried out and evaluated during the first 4 days following surgery. Symptom intensity, range of motion of the operated joints, oedema in the operated limb and haematoma absorption were assessed. Results. Postoperative vibroacoustic therapy performed during the first 4 post-operative days reduced pain more significantly than kinesiotherapy alone. It also clinically improved the absorption of post-traumatic haematomas in post-TKR patients insignificantly better than kinesiotherapy. In post-THR patients who had undergone an anterolateral approach procedure, phoning (vibroacoustic stimulation) significantly sped up the rate of recovery of normal internal rotation angles in the operated joints. Conclusions. 1. Vibroacoustic therapy applied topically in post-TKR patients exerts a significant positive effect on reducing pain intensity. 2. Topical vibroacoustic therapy does not significantly reduce the oedema around the operated hip and knee joints or increase their range of motion. 3. Vibroacoustic therapy accelerates the absorption of postoperative subcutaneous haematomas in a clinically visible manner.