Injuries restored to ROM using PSWD and mobilizations

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Physical Therapy
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Decreased range of motion (ROM) in the elbow is a common complication following traumatic injuries, fractures, and dislocations.
• Post-surgical patients, particularly those with internal fixation devices, often experience significant limitations in elbow mobility.
• Restoring functional ROM is crucial for patients to return to daily activities and maintain quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report on a treatment regimen involving pulsed shortwave diathermyathermy (PSWD) and joint mobilizations for patients with limited elbow ROM.
• To evaluate the efficacy of PSWD as an adjunct therapy for improving elbow extension in post-traumatic and post-surgical cases.
• To assess the safety and long-term maintenance of ROM improvements following the combined treatment.

Main Methods:

• Seven subjects with reduced elbow ROM due to trauma underwent a treatment protocol.
• The regimen included 20-minute sessions of PSWD at 48 watts applied to the anterior elbow.
• Immediately following PSWD, therapists administered joint mobilizations to the elbow.
• Treatments were administered for a maximum of 6 sessions.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in active elbow extension were observed, ranging from 19 to 30 degrees after 6 or fewer treatments.
• All but one patient achieved functional ROM and returned to normal activities.
• Follow-up at 4 weeks confirmed that subjects maintained 85-100% of their achieved extension.
• No adverse effects were reported during the short-term follow-up period.

Conclusions:

• PSWD, when used cautiously at 48W, can be a beneficial addition to joint mobilization for enhancing peripheral joint ROM.
• This combined therapeutic approach appears effective even in the presence of internal fixation devices.
• The treatment demonstrates potential for improving elbow function and facilitating patient recovery after significant trauma.