Abstract

Objective: To assess the improvement of knee contractures in five patients with transtibial amputation, after treatment with Segmental Muscle Vibration (SMV), added to general physical therapy. Materials and methods: Ten patients, with restrictive knee contractures, were divided in two groups: group A, with 5 patients, received physical therapy and SMV; group B received only physical therapy. All patients were treated for 2 hours/daily, 5 days/week with conventional physical theapies; to this protocol, a daily treatment with SMV was added for 20 sessions in patients of group A: 10 sessions of dynamic slow wave (20 Hz), with decontracting and draining action, were performed; succesivily 10 session of dynamic medium wave (50 Hz), with trophic action, were added. Knee and hip ROM were measured, using a goniometer, before (T0) and after (T1) 30 days of treatment. Results: After 20 sessions of treatment, all patients of group A obtained a greater improvement in knee extension of lower limb amputee rather than patients of group B (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: SMV, when added to general physical therapy, could be a valid support improving, in a short-term period, knee contractures in patients with transtibial amputation.

Authors and Affiliations