Motor and Sensory Deficits Following Partial Meniscectomy

Creighton University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Meniscus Tear

Treatments: Other: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02100059

13-16795

Details and patient eligibility

About

To determine changes in thigh muscle function and knee pain after a partial meniscectomy surgery and to also determine the effects of applying electrical stimulation to the knee to determine if this improves thigh muscle function and decreases pain.

Full description

The objective for this study is to determine the differences in corticospinal excitability and central sensitization of nociceptive pathways in individuals with a history of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy compared to healthy controls. Our central hypothesis is that quadriceps weakness following partial meniscectomy is due to higher levels of corticospinal excitability and central sensitization of nociceptive pathways, which can be modified with therapeutic interventions.

Enrollment: 60 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 15 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age 15-65
• Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy with in the past 15 years

Exclusion criteria

• History of traumatic spine or lower extremity injury within the last 6 months
• Previous adverse reaction to electrical stimulation (i.e. burns or hypersensitivity)
• Cardiac pacemaker
• Metal implants in head
• Current pregnancy
• Neurological disorders
• History of seizures
• Unable to give consent or understand the procedures of this study

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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60 participants in 1 patient group

Electrical Stimulation (TENS)

Experimental group

Description:

The TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) electrodes will be applied on the medial and lateral superior, as well as the medial and lateral inferior, borders of the patella. A continuous biphasic pulsatile current (150 Hz, phase duration 150 µs) will be applied at an intensity that produces a comfortable sensation but not a muscle contraction. The duration of intervention will be 40 minutes.

Treatment:

Other: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation