Quadriceps Muscle Strength Recovery With the Use of High Tone Power Therapy After ACL Reconstruction: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

BackgroundA relatively new method of electrotherapy is High Tone Power Therapy. It directly affects cell metabolism, improving metabolic processes in tissues, and pain relief. It can also be used to obtain stimulating effects of the current, in this case also for electro stimulation of the quadriceps. The aim was to assess the effectiveness of electro stimulation of the quadriceps muscle in patients after ACL reconstruction, with the use of High Tone Power Therapy.MethodsIn pre post treatment randomized controlled trial took part thirty-five patients after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. The tests were carried prior to and 6 months following the ACL reconstruction. After the surgery, the patients were randomly divided into two research groups – experimental group (17 patients) had the High Tone Power Therapy included in rehabilitation, while the control group (18 patients) was without the High Tone Power Therapy. All patients were subjected to 6-month rehabilitation. Research tools included the measurement of muscle strength torque, ROM, knee and thigh circumference measurements, the Lysholm and the VAS scale ResultsThe analysis showed that there were no statistically significant differences in the measurement of maximum muscle torque of knee extensors between groups and measurements. The analysis did not show any statistically significant differences in other analyzed variables.ConclusionsHigh Tone Power Therapy used in the rehabilitation of patients after ACL reconstruction does not significantly affect the strength of the quadriceps muscle and the function of the knee joint.Trail Registration This study was registered retrospectively in the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR). Registration number: ACTRN12616001416482.