Neuromuscular Consequences of Knee Arthroscopy

Creighton University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Tear of Fibrocartilage of Joint

Treatments: Other: Cryotherapy and compression; Other: Cryotherapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01786772

NCT12-16517

Details and patient eligibility

About

To determine changes in quadriceps muscle function following the application of ice and compression to the knee.

Full description

Novel rehabilitation methods, that specifically target decreased muscle activation due to joint pathology prior to strength training, have elicited greater improvements in muscle function and self-reported disability compared to traditional therapies. Preliminary evidence suggests applying cryotherapy to a joint prior to exercise can increase quadriceps activation. It is unknown if applying cryotherapy and intermittent pneumatic compression can also increase quadriceps force output and voluntary activation. The purpose of this study is to determine changes in quadriceps force output and voluntary activation following the application of cryotherapy and compression. The investigators hypothesize there will be an increase in quadriceps force output and voluntary activation following the application of cryotherapy and compression.

Enrollment: 39 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 15 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age 15-65 years
• BMI < 30
• Candidate for arthroscopic knee surgery to address meniscus pathology or arthroscopic knee surgery within the past 2 years.

Exclusion criteria

• Participants who are outside of age range
• Ligamentous insufficiency or repair
• Participants with traumatic spine or lower extremity injury within past 6 months
• Participants who have had previous adverse reactions to electrical stimulation or cryotherapy (i.e. burns, hypersensitivity)
• Medical conditions which would be contraindications to electrical stimulation or transcranial magnetic stimulation, including cardiac pacemaker, metal implants in the head, current pregnancy, neurological disorders, and history of seizures
• Participants who are unable to give consent or are unable to understand procedures of experiment.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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39 participants in 2 patient groups

Cryotherapy and compression

Experimental group

Description:

Cryotherapy and intermittent pneumatic compression will be applied to the knee joint using a recirculating compression unit and knee sleeve. This unit will recirculate water which is between 1-3° C. Circumferential intermittent pneumatic compression to the knee joint (5 to 50 mm Hg) will be applied in conjunction with cryotherapy. The duration of intervention will be 20 minutes.

Treatment:

Other: Cryotherapy and compression

Cryotherapy

Active Comparator group

Description:

Cryotherapy will be applied to the knee joint using a recirculating compression unit and knee sleeve. This unit will recirculate water which is between 1-3° C. The duration of intervention will be 20 minutes.

Treatment:

Other: Cryotherapy