The short wave diathermy was utilized on the 25 patients with rheumatoid arthritis suffering from the pain of the knee joint and therapeutic effects were evaluated.
Ito rator K-I, a short wave generator for the treatment at home (voltage: 100v, 28MHZ), was applied on the painful knee joint daily for 20 minutes.
The therapeutic effects were assessed by the findings before and after daily single application of the short wave diathermy (I), and also by the findings after a series of the treatments during a month (II).
In the latter case, the short wave diathermy was utilized for 20 minutes every morning between nine and ten except on Sundays.
For the purpose of the evaluation of the therapeutic effects, six items of the studies were selected, including (1) points of the joint pain, (2) A-ROM of the knee flexion, (3) gait time for 10 meters, (4) time between the flexion and extension, (5) extensor muscle strength of the knee, and (6) flexor muscle strength of the knee.
The results were as follows:
(1) The knee joint pain was improved after daily single application of the short wave diathermy and the decrease in their pain points was 30 per cent.
(2) Gait time for 10 meters and time between the knee flexion and extension (10 times) were significantly improved after daily single application of the short wave diathermy.
(3) After a series of treatments of thort wave diathermy during a month some improvements were showed on the all items, but every improvements was not significant.