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. 2012;20(5):285-90.
doi: 10.1590/S1413-78522012000500008.

Effectiveness of cryotherapy after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Camila Dambros  1 , Ana Luiza Cabrera Martimbianco  1 , Luis Otávio Polachini  1 , Gisele Landim Lahoz  1 , Therezinha Rosane Chamlian  1 , Moisés Cohen  1
Affiliations

Effectiveness of cryotherapy after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Camila Dambros et al. Acta Ortop Bras. 2012.

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate cryotherapy effectiveness in the immediate postoperative period of ACL reconstruction to improve pain and range of motion (ROM) of the knee.

Methods: This is a pilot study of a prospective and randomized clinical trial. Patients (n=25) were divided into two groups: Intervention (A) group (n=10): patients were submitted to an inpatient physical therapy protocol and received ice compress for 20 minutes, twice a day; Control (B) group (n=9): patients had the same protocol, twice a day. The pain intensity was evaluated with the visual analogic scale (VAS) and range of motion was measured with a goniometer.

Results: The Intervention (A) group had important absolute and percentual improvement when compared with the Control (B) group regarding measures of pain and knee flexion/extension ROM.

Conclusion: Cryotherapy in the immediate postoperative period of ACL reconstruction was effective to improve pain and range of motion of the knee. Level of Evidence I, Randomized Clinical Trial .

Keywords: Anterior cruciate ligament; Cryotherapy; Pain measurement; Range of motion, articular.

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Conflict of interest statement

All the authors declare that there is no potential conflict of interest referring to this article.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CONSORT Flowchart
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mean range of motion of knee flexion in the Intervention and Control groups.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mean range of motion of knee extension in the Intervention and Control groups.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Mean pain at rest in knee in the Intervention and Control groups..
Figure 5
Figure 5
Absolute improvement of the physiotherapy treatment in the Intervention and Control groups in the range of motion of knee flexion and extension and in pain after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Percentual improvement of physiotherapy treatment in the Intervention and Control groups in the range of motion of knee flexion and extension and in pain after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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