Isokinetic quadriceps physiotherapy after knee surgery: a retrospective study

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Quadriceps weakness is a common and significant consequence following knee surgery, impacting both the knee joint and the broader locomotor system.
• Effective rehabilitation strategies are crucial for restoring quadriceps function and mitigating long-term complications.
• Comparing different exercise modalities is essential for optimizing post-operative recovery protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of isokinetic exercise versus isotonic exercise in restoring quadriceps torque after knee surgery.
• To evaluate the impact of these distinct rehabilitation protocols on muscle strength recovery.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 180 male subjects undergoing knee surgery, divided into two groups (n=90 each) for rehabilitation.
• Group A underwent isokinetic exercise, while Group B performed isotonic exercise with added resistance.
• Isokinetic strength testing of the quadriceps was conducted at baseline, 3 weeks, and 6 weeks post-rehabilitation.

Main Results:

• The isokinetic exercise group (Group A) demonstrated significantly better outcomes in isokinetic tests compared to the isotonic group (Group B).
• A high percentage (92.2%) of subjects in the isokinetic group achieved the highest strength class by the end of the study.
• MANOVA and discriminant analysis confirmed the superior effectiveness of the isokinetic rehabilitation protocol.

Conclusions:

• Isokinetic exercise is a more effective physiotherapy intervention for addressing quadriceps hypotrophy post-knee surgery.
• This approach leads to superior torque restoration and functional recovery in the quadriceps muscle.
• Findings support the integration of isokinetic training into standard post-operative knee rehabilitation protocols.