A randomized trial of treatment for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction by radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy.
OrthoEvidence Journal (OE Journal) - ACE Report
Epub Ahead of Print
BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2024 01-Jan;():. 10.1186/s12891-024-07177-8What this means for my practice?
rESWT may accelerate early improvements in pain, knee function, and ROM following ACL reconstruction when combined with standard rehabilitation. These findings suggest rESWT may be a useful addition for improving early rehabilitation outcomes and facilitating recovery progression. Key limitations include lack of imaging-based healing outcomes and uncertainty regarding optimal treatment dosage and long-term effectiveness.
Study Summary
Sixty-three patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction were randomized to receive standard rehabilitation plus radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) or standard rehabilitation plus sham rESWT. The primary outcomes of interest were Lysholm Knee Score (LKS), range of motion (ROM), visual analogue scale (VAS), and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and at 3, 6, and 24 weeks post-treatment. Overall, the results of the study revealed that rESWT significantly improved knee function, pain, and ROM at early follow-up (3 and 6 weeks) compared with rehabilitation alone, although no significant between-group differences were observed at 24 weeks. These findings suggest rESWT may accelerate early postoperative recovery following ACL reconstruction.
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