Electrostimulation in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Effects of Low Frequency Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Applied to the Quadriceps in the Production of Knee Extension Strength and Control of Edema After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is frequently injured, and it is the structure of the athlete´s knee which has the highest prevalence of reconstruction. Given this postoperative ACL reconstruction scenario the investigator find in literature the effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) as an adjuvant treatment for strengthening the quadriceps muscle. The intensity of NMES and the training duration are important factors for a successful treatment.

The purpose of this study is to compare two rehabilitation protocols in patients during the post operative of the ACL reconstruction over the strength of knee extension and control of edema.

It will be a randomized controlled study with the CONSORT bases with 40 participants that will be divided into two groups: Control group that will be submitted only to physical therapy exercises, and the Intervention group that will be submitted to physical therapy exercises plus electrical stimulation (low frequency device with a current of 47 Hz with symmetrical, biphasic and pyramidal waveforms, with pulse duration of 1.5 s and interval of 1.8 s). The procedure will last six weeks. It will be evaluated the pre intervention quadriceps muscle extension force by means of a manual dynamometer, and the joint swelling through the perimeter. This procedure will be repeated after six weeks of intervention.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Knee Injuries
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: electrical stimulation; Other: physical therapy exercises

Detailed Description

Participants Twenty-two patients that submitted to ACL surgical reconstruction with flexor grafts less than 15 days previously will be included in the study, both genders, between 18-45 years old. Individuals with previous knee lesions, other ligament injuries, osteochondritis or associated menisci repair and complications during surgery will not be included in the study. Patients that carried out complimentary therapies to the proposed treatment will be excluded.

The participants will be randomized into two groups: control and electrical stimulation group

. Intervention All the subjects will be submitted to physiotherapy sessions three times a week, following a 12 weeks criterion based reahabilitation, carried out in line with the objectives proposed for each rehabilitation phase (immediate post-operative, early post-operativeand late post-operative). A group of trained physiotherapists will design the exercises and determinate their evolution, including range of motion improvement, muscular control and strength, gait training with progression in weight bearing and sensory-motor control training, according to the established guidelines.

The patients from the electrical stimulation group will receive, in addition, NMES application in the first six weeks of treatment, using an electrical stimulator with a carrier frequency of 47 Hz with symmetrical, biphasic and pyramidal waves, with pulse duration of 150 µs and duty cycle of 1,5 sec on and 1,8 sec off.

Evaluation It will be evaluated the pre intervention quadriceps muscle extension force by means of a manual dynamometer, and the joint swelling through the perimeter. This procedure will be repeated after six weeks of intervention.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 24
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Brazil
  • SP
    • São Paulo, SP, Brazil, 04039-001
      • Universidade Federal de São Paulo

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 45 years (ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subjects between 18 e 45 years old, submitted in the last 15 days to the ACL reconstruction surgery, being the first knee lesion episode.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients cannot present any constrains regarding the physical activity practice according to the Sports Medicine American College.
• cartilage degeneration with a degree higher than 2 according to the cartilage Repair International Society
• Presence of other ligamentary lesions associated to the ACL reconstruction.
• Utilization of complementary therapies parallel to the treatment.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: DOUBLE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: Electrical stimulation; The subjects on this group will be submitted to a conventional rehabilitation (ROM increase, strength recovery, functional training) associated with electrostimulation.	Other: electrical stimulation; Intervention group that will be submitted to physical therapy exercises plus electrical stimulation (low frequency device with a current of 47 Hz with symmetrical, biphasic and pyramidal waveforms, with pulse duration of 1.5 s and interval of 1.8 s); Other: physical therapy exercises; Control group that will be submitted only to physical therapy exercises
ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: Physical therapy exercises; The subjects on this group will be submitted to a conventional rehabilitation (ROM increase, strength recovery, functional training).	Other: physical therapy exercises; Control group that will be submitted only to physical therapy exercises

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Federal University of São Paulo
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Tiago A Bozzo, Federal University of São Paulo

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: June 1, 2015
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): July 1, 2015
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): July 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 3, 2012
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 3, 2012
• First Posted (ESTIMATE): July 4, 2012

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ESTIMATE): July 20, 2015
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 16, 2015
• Last Verified: July 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Anterior Cruciate Ligament; Electric Stimulation Therapy
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Leg Injuries; Knee Injuries
• Other Study ID Numbers: CAAE 01430812.1.0000.5505