Effectiveness of supervised physical therapy in the early period after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy.
OBJECTIVE
Controversy exists about the effectiveness of physical therapy after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of supervised physical therapy with a home program versus a home program alone.


METHODS
Eighty-four patients (86% males; overall mean age=39 years, SD=9, range=21-58; female mean age=39 years, SD=9, range=24-58; male mean age=40, SD=9, range=21-58) who underwent an uncomplicated arthroscopic partial meniscectomy participated.


METHODS
Subjects were randomly assigned to either a group who received 6 weeks of supervised physical therapy with a home program or a group who received only a home program. Blinded test sessions were conducted 5 and 50 days after surgery. Outcome measures were: (1) Hughston Clinic questionnaire, (2) Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and EuroQol EQ-5D (EQ-5D) questionnaires, (3) number of days to return to work after surgery divided by the Factor Occupational Rating System score, (4) kinematic analysis of knee function during level walking and stair use, and (5) horizontal and vertical hops.


RESULTS
No differences between groups were found for any of the outcomes measured.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that the supervised physical therapy used in this study is not beneficial for patients in the early period after uncomplicated arthroscopic partial meniscectomy.
Goodwin
Peter C
PC
Centre for Applied Biomedical Research, GKT School of Biomedical Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
Morrissey
Matthew C
MC
Omar
Rumana Z
RZ
Brown
Michael
M
Southall
Kathleen
K
McAuliffe
Thomas B
TB
D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries; D016896:Treatment Outcome