Introduction and objective: Low levels of physical activity (PA) and sedentary lifestyle have become a major public health problem in developed countries, even among the young population. The aim of the study was to determine and compare physical activity levels, health-related quality of life...
9 March 2018 in Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports
The incidence of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is steadily increasing worldwide. Therefore, it is crucial to develop efficient rehabilitation protocols and investigate the innovations in medical technology, which could improve rehabilitation outcomes. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of adding electromyographic biofeedback (EMG-BF) to the conventional program of rehabilitation after TKA on quality of life, intensity of pain, and functional performance. The study was designed as a randomized controlled trial. A total of 131 patients were randomly assigned to two groups: an experimental group (n = 67; median age 70 (IQR 10)), and a control group (n = 64; median age 69 (IQR 9)). Both groups participated in an inpatient program of 21 days of rehabilitation, including land-based and aquatic exercise therapy, electrotherapy, and education. In the experimental group, a portion of land-based exercise therapy was supplemented by EMG-BF. A numeric rating scale (NRS), Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), use of mobility aids, 30 s chair stand test (CST), and timed up and go (TUG) test were used to measure outcomes. Both groups improved their functional abilities from day 1 to day 21 of rehabilitation. A higher proportion of participants did not use a walking aid (p < 0.002), and their NRS, KOOS, 30 s CST and TUG scores improved (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences between the groups in the outcomes. EMG-BF did not provide additional benefits to the conventional rehabilitation after TKA.
The goal of the trial was to examine the effects of adding electromyographic biofeedback (EMG-BF) to the conventional program of physiotherapy after total hip arthroplasty (THA) on functional recovery and quality of life. The trial was designed as a prospective, interventional, single-blinded randomized controlled study. Ninety patients were randomized into an experimental group (EG) (n = 45; mean age 63.9 ± 8.8) and control group (CG) (n = 45; mean age 63.9 ± 9). All patients received 21 days of physiotherapy which consisted of therapeutic exercise (land-based and aquatic), electrotherapy, and education. Electromyographic biofeedback was added to a portion of the land-based exercise in EG. The Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS), Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Short Form Health Survey-36 (SF-36), use of a walking aid, 30 s chair stand test (CST) as well as the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test were used for outcome measurement. A higher proportion of the participants in both groups did not need a walking aid after the intervention (p < 0.05). All participants improved their 30 s CST and TUG results (p < 0.001), as well as their NRS and HOOS scores (p < 0.05). No significant differences between the groups were found. There were no additional benefits from adding EMG-BF to the conventional physiotherapy protocol.