Does deep oscillation therapy enhance early rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction ?
Deep oscillation therapy enhances early rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction: a randomized controlled trial.
J Rehabil Med. 2025 01-Oct:. 10.2340/jrm.v57.44416Sixty patients were scheduled for arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and were randomized to receive either physiotherapy plus deep oscillation therapy or physiotherapy alone. No participants were lost to follow-up, and all 60 patients completed the four-week intervention and were included in the primary analysis. The primary outcome of interest was pressure pain threshold around the operated knee measured using an algesimeter. Secondary outcomes included knee swelling assessed by limb circumference, active knee flexion and extension range of motion, and biochemical markers of inflammation and thromboembolic risk, specifically C-reactive protein (CRP) and D-dimer. Outcomes were assessed at postoperative day 3 (baseline), 2 weeks, and 4 weeks. Overall, the results of the study revealed that patients receiving deep oscillation therapy demonstrated significantly greater improvements in pain tolerance, swelling reduction, knee mobility, and inflammatory marker reduction compared with physiotherapy alone. These findings suggest that deep oscillation therapy enhances early postoperative recovery after ACL reconstruction.
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