Effects of Pulsed Ultrasound with Low-Intensity on Recovery  of Physical Impairments After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A  Preliminary Quasi-Experimental Study

Munayati Munajat; Nor Azlin Mohd Nordin; Nor Hamdan Mohamad Yahaya; Ahmad Hafiz Zulkifly

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Effects of Pulsed Ultrasound with Low-Intensity on Recovery of Physical Impairments After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Preliminary Quasi-Experimental Study

Author: Munayati Munajat ^{1
,

2} ; Nor Azlin Mohd Nordin ¹ ; Nor Hamdan Mohamad Yahaya ³ ; Ahmad Hafiz Zulkifly ⁴
Author Information

1. Center for Rehabilitation and Special Needs, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia&
2. Department of Physical Rehabilitation Sciences, Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia, Bandar Indera Mahkota, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
3. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
4. Department of Orthopaedics, Traumatology and Rehabilitation, International Islamic University Malaysia Medical Centre, Bandar Indera Mahkota, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Pulsed ultrasound, Rehabilitation, Total knee arthroplasty
From:Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2021;17(No.2):162-168
CountryMalaysia
Language:English
Abstract: Introduction: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) commonly cause physical impairments, which necessitate physiotherapy post-operatively. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound is an adjuvant treatment to conventional physiotherapy; however, its effects on TKA recovery require further investigation. The study aimed to ascertain the outcome of adding low-intensity pulsed ultrasound therapy into conventional physiotherapy on recovery from physical impairments after TKA. Methods: This assessor-blinded quasi-experimental study was conducted in a tertiary medical centre in Central Malaysia. Patients with TKA due to grade III and IV knee osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence grading system) were alternately allocated into either an experimental group (n=10) or a control group (n=10). Other than low-intensity pulsed ultrasound as received by the experimental group’s participants, the two groups received the same amount and content of conventional physiotherapy. Participants’ pain, knee swelling, active knee flexion range, and quadriceps strength were assessed at baseline, week 1 of the intervention, and the 1-week follow-up. The two interventions’ effects were analysed using a mixed model ANOVA. Results: The pain score and knee swelling decreased (P<0.05), while the knee flexion range and quadriceps strength increased significantly (P<0.001) after both interventions. The experimental group had a significantly lower pain score [3.07(2.18) at visual analogue scale] and a greater active knee flexion range [80.48(26.42) degrees] compared to the control group [pain score=4.29(1.54); knee flexion=67.00(25.15) degrees] following the interventions. There were no significant interaction effects for all outcomes. Conclusion: The combination of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound into a conventional physiotherapy program demonstrated more promising results in pain alleviation and knee motion recovery following TKA.
Full text:11.2021my1033.pdf