title: Low temperatures in post-operative knee rehabilitation in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
abstract: Low temperatures were applied (in addition to kinesitherapy), in the form of injected air cooled to -75 C and CO2, to 22 patients (34 knees) recovering from total knee alloplasty or synovectomy. Each procedure lasted 5-7 minutes. The control group consisted o 22 patients (34 knees) treated with kinesitherapy only.<br /> The range of active and passive flexion and extension in the operated knee joint was tested twice, once before the experiment began and once after the third week. During this period the subjective feeling of pain was also observed.<br /> The results were analyzed statistically using the t-Student test. Upon comparison of the results obtained by patients from both tested groups, it can be stated that the addition of low temperatures to the program of post-operative rehabilitation of the knee enables:<br /> - faster and more effective pain relief;<br /> - faster increase in the range of movement, especially flexion, in the operated knees.<br /> These results justify the conclusion that this method should be recommended in rehabilitation of the knee after surgery.
authors.affiliation: Zakład Rehabilitacji Reumatologicznej, Instytut Reumatologiczny, Warszawa.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ksiezopolska-Pietrzak
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sobol
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Michalak
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Synowiec