Effect of functional movements and mechanical therapy combined with electrical stimulation on balance of patients following knee joint endoprosthesis surgery

Problem: Better balance correlates with greater mobility and better quality of life. Training of balance should be given more emphasis in the process of rehabilitation in patients after the knee joint endoprosthesis surgery. In the rehabilitation process, the combinations of mechanical therapy plus hydrotherapy or physical therapy in a gym (functional exercises) plus hydrotherapy are frequently applied; however, which of the combinations produces greater effect on the training of balance remains unknown. Research aim was to evaluate the effect of functional movement training and mechanical therapy on the balance of the patients following the knee joint endoprosthesis surgery. The objectives of research were the following: • To evaluate the balance before and after mechanical therapy applied in the patients following the knee joint endoprosthesis surgery. • To evaluate the balance before and after functional movement training applied in the patients following the knee joint endoprosthesis surgery. • To compare the changes of the balance in both groups. Research object – the balance of the patients after the knee joint endoprosthesis surgery. Material and methods: The study was conducted from January to December, 2013. In the rehabilitation clinic “Medicus” (Kaunas), the balance was tested before application of mechanical therapy plus hydrotherapy or functional movement training plus hydrotherapy and at the end of rehabilitation before patients left the rehabilitation clinic. In total, 18 patients participated in the study. The patients were divided into 2 groups (9 patients each) after the knee joint endoprosthesis surgery. Research methods: 1. Balance test using the balance plate “Dr. Wolff Balance Check“. 2. Application of physical therapy methods. 3. Statistical analysis. Research hypothesis: Greater balance improvement can be observed when hydrotherapy plus physical therapy in a gym is applied in comparison with hydrotherapy plus mechanical therapy. Results: Although functional movements combined with hydrotherapy resulted in a better balance tendenciškai management, but the comparison between the different methods of physical therapy complexes statsistiškai material balance control point averages were observed. It can be concluded that both methods are equally effective. Conclusions: 1. Functional movement training has an effect on balance control, turning velocity and balance maintenance in the sagittal and frontal planes in patients following the knee joint endoprosthesis surgery. 2. Mechanical therapy combined with electrical stimulation has an effect on balance control, turning velocity and balance maintenance in the sagittal and frontal planes in patients following the knee joint endoprosthesis surgery. 3. Functional movement training and mechanical therapy combined with electrical stimulation effectively improve balance outcomes in patients following the knee joint endoprosthesis surgery. 4. Functional movement training and mechanical therapy combined with electrical stimulation have a similar effect on the balance of patients following the knee joint endoprosthesis surgery