Effect of Differently Localised Electrical Stimulation and Therapeutic Exercises on Pain, Functional Status and Quality of Life in Subjects After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Surgery

Abstract

Background. Electrical stimulation is an effective treatment for restoring muscle strength in the thigh after anterior cruciate ligament reconstructive surgery.

The aim – To determine the effects of differently localized electrical stimulation and therapeutic exercises on pain, functional status and quality of life in subjects after anterior cruciate ligament tear injury.

Methods. The study included 29 patients after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery. The control group received physiotherapy and electrostimulation on the quadriceps femoris muscle, the study group received physiotherapy and electrostimulation on the quadriceps and hamstrings muscles. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to measure pain intensity. The amplitude of knee extension and flexion was measured with a goniometer. The strength of the knee extensor and flexor muscles was assessed by manual muscle testing using the Oxford scale. Quality of life was measured using the SF-36 questionnaire.

Results. In both groups, there was a significant increase in muscle strength (p<0.05), an increase in knee joint amplitude (p<0.05) and a decrease in pain intensity (p<0.05). However, the difference between groups was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Quality of life improved in both groups (p<0.05), but the quality of life score was higher in the study group (p<0.05).

Conclusion. Therapeutic exercises and electrostimulation of differently localized significantly improved the subjects' functional condition and quality of life. The quality of life assessment was significantly better in the group where electrostimulation was applied to both the anterior and posterior sides of the thigh muscles than to the anterior side only..

Keywords: physiotherapy; electrostimulation; functional status; quality of life; anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery.