Effectiveness of Complex Decongestive Therapy For Swelling, Pain, and Functional Recovery After ACL .
Efficacy of complex decongestive therapy in managing limb swelling, pain, and enhancing functional recovery after arthroscopic reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament.
Appl Nurs Res. 2025 Apr:82:151915.One hundred and sixty patients undergoing ACLR were randomized to receive either conventional nursing care (n=64) or complex decongestive therapy (CDT) (n=69). The primary outcomes included limb circumference (calf, central patellar, and thigh), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores, and active range of motion (AROM). These outcomes were assessed preoperatively and on postoperative days 1, 3, 5, 14, and 30. Secondary outcomes included Lysholm knee function scores measured at baseline and on day 30. Overall, the results of the study revealed that CDT significantly reduced calf and central patellar swelling on days 3 and 5, alleviated pain on days 1 and 3, and improved AROM on days 14 and 30. Additionally, Lysholm scores were significantly higher in the CDT group on day 30. These findings suggest that CDT improves early postoperative outcomes in ACLR patients.
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