Electrostimulation in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Study Description

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Brief Summary:

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is frequently injured, and it is the structure of the athlete´s knee which has the highest prevalence of reconstruction. Given this postoperative ACL reconstruction scenario the investigator find in literature the effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) as an adjuvant treatment for strengthening the quadriceps muscle. The intensity of NMES and the training duration are important factors for a successful treatment.

The purpose of this study is to compare two rehabilitation protocols in patients during the post operative of the ACL reconstruction over the strength of knee extension and control of edema.

It will be a randomized controlled study with the CONSORT bases with 40 participants that will be divided into two groups: Control group that will be submitted only to physical therapy exercises, and the Intervention group that will be submitted to physical therapy exercises plus electrical stimulation (low frequency device with a current of 47 Hz with symmetrical, biphasic and pyramidal waveforms, with pulse duration of 1.5 s and interval of 1.8 s). The procedure will last six weeks. It will be evaluated the pre intervention quadriceps muscle extension force by means of a manual dynamometer, and the joint swelling through the perimeter. This procedure will be repeated after six weeks of intervention.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Knee Injuries	Other: electrical stimulation; Other: physical therapy exercises	Not Applicable

Detailed Description:

Participants Twenty-two patients that submitted to ACL surgical reconstruction with flexor grafts less than 15 days previously will be included in the study, both genders, between 18-45 years old. Individuals with previous knee lesions, other ligament injuries, osteochondritis or associated menisci repair and complications during surgery will not be included in the study. Patients that carried out complimentary therapies to the proposed treatment will be excluded.

The participants will be randomized into two groups: control and electrical stimulation group

. Intervention All the subjects will be submitted to physiotherapy sessions three times a week, following a 12 weeks criterion based reahabilitation, carried out in line with the objectives proposed for each rehabilitation phase (immediate post-operative, early post-operativeand late post-operative). A group of trained physiotherapists will design the exercises and determinate their evolution, including range of motion improvement, muscular control and strength, gait training with progression in weight bearing and sensory-motor control training, according to the established guidelines.

The patients from the electrical stimulation group will receive, in addition, NMES application in the first six weeks of treatment, using an electrical stimulator with a carrier frequency of 47 Hz with symmetrical, biphasic and pyramidal waves, with pulse duration of 150 µs and duty cycle of 1,5 sec on and 1,8 sec off.

Evaluation It will be evaluated the pre intervention quadriceps muscle extension force by means of a manual dynamometer, and the joint swelling through the perimeter. This procedure will be repeated after six weeks of intervention.

Study Design

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Study Type :	Interventional (Clinical Trial)
Actual Enrollment :	24 participants
Allocation:	Randomized
Intervention Model:	Parallel Assignment
Masking:	Double (Participant, Investigator)
Primary Purpose:	Treatment
Official Title:	Effects of Low Frequency Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Applied to the Quadriceps in the Production of Knee Extension Strength and Control of Edema After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Study Start Date :	June 2015
Actual Primary Completion Date :	July 2015
Actual Study Completion Date :	July 2015

Arms and Interventions

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Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Arm	Intervention/treatment
Experimental: Electrical stimulation; The subjects on this group will be submitted to a conventional rehabilitation (ROM increase, strength recovery, functional training) associated with electrostimulation.	Other: electrical stimulation; Intervention group that will be submitted to physical therapy exercises plus electrical stimulation (low frequency device with a current of 47 Hz with symmetrical, biphasic and pyramidal waveforms, with pulse duration of 1.5 s and interval of 1.8 s) Other: physical therapy exercises; Control group that will be submitted only to physical therapy exercises
Active Comparator: Physical therapy exercises; The subjects on this group will be submitted to a conventional rehabilitation (ROM increase, strength recovery, functional training).	Other: physical therapy exercises; Control group that will be submitted only to physical therapy exercises

Outcome Measures

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Eligibility Criteria

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Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Ages Eligible for Study:	18 Years to 45 Years (Adult)
Sexes Eligible for Study:	All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:	Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subjects between 18 e 45 years old, submitted in the last 15 days to the ACL reconstruction surgery, being the first knee lesion episode.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients cannot present any constrains regarding the physical activity practice according to the Sports Medicine American College.
• cartilage degeneration with a degree higher than 2 according to the cartilage Repair International Society
• Presence of other ligamentary lesions associated to the ACL reconstruction.
• Utilization of complementary therapies parallel to the treatment.

Contacts and Locations

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Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Locations

Brazil
Universidade Federal de São Paulo
São Paulo, SP, Brazil, 04039-001

Sponsors and Collaborators

Federal University of São Paulo

Investigators

Principal Investigator:	Tiago A Bozzo	Federal University of São Paulo

More Information

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Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Responsible Party:	Tiago Alves Bozzo, Dr., Federal University of São Paulo
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:	NCT01633047 History of Changes
Other Study ID Numbers:	CAAE 01430812.1.0000.5505
First Posted:	July 4, 2012
Last Update Posted:	July 20, 2015
Last Verified:	July 2015

Keywords provided by Tiago Alves Bozzo, Federal University of São Paulo:

Anterior Cruciate Ligament; Electric Stimulation Therapy

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Knee Injuries; Leg Injuries; Wounds and Injuries