OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacy on the motor impairment of knee joint after tracture operation between the combined therapeutic method of relaxing needling manipulation and exercise therapy and the simple exercise therapy.

METHODSSixty-four patients after the operation for the fracture of femoral shaft were randomized into a relaxing needling combined with exercise therapy group (group A) and an exercise therapy group (group B), 32 cases in each one. In the group A, the relaxing needling manipulation was applied to the local painful area of knee or the stiff soft tissues. Additionally, the exercise therapy was used in combination. In the group B, the exercise therapy was applied simply. Hospital for special surgery (HSS) pain score, the range of movement (ROM) of knee joint and Lysholm score were compared before and 60 days after treatment in the patients of the two groups. The efficacy was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, HSS pain score, ROM and Lysholm score were all improved in the two groups, presenting the significant differences as compared with those before treatment (all P<0. 05). The results in the group A were better than those in the group B (all P<0. 05). The total effective rate was 96. 9% (31/32) in the group A, which was better than 75. 0% (24/32) in the group B (P<0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe combined therapeutic method of relaxing needling manipulation and exercise therapy achieves the significant efficacy on the motor impairment of knee joint after the operation for the fracture of femoral shaft, superior to the simple exercise therapy.