Effectiveness of cryotherapy after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate cryotherapy effectiveness in the immediate postoperative period of ACL reconstruction to improve pain and range of motion (ROM) of the knee.


METHODS
This is a pilot study of a prospective and randomized clinical trial. Patients (n=25) were divided into two groups: Intervention (A) group (n=10): patients were submitted to an inpatient physical therapy protocol and received ice compress for 20 minutes, twice a day; Control (B) group (n=9): patients had the same protocol, twice a day. The pain intensity was evaluated with the visual analogic scale (VAS) and range of motion was measured with a goniometer.


RESULTS
The Intervention (A) group had important absolute and percentual improvement when compared with the Control (B) group regarding measures of pain and knee flexion/extension ROM.


CONCLUSIONS
Cryotherapy in the immediate postoperative period of ACL reconstruction was effective to improve pain and range of motion of the knee. Level of Evidence I, Randomized Clinical Trial .
Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) - Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Escola Paulista de Medicina - São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Camila
C
Dambros
Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) - Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Escola Paulista de Medicina - São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Ana Luiza Cabrera
AL
Martimbianco
Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) - Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Escola Paulista de Medicina - São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Luis Otávio
LO
Polachini
Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) - Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Escola Paulista de Medicina - São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Gisele Landim
GL
Lahoz
Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) - Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Escola Paulista de Medicina - São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Therezinha Rosane
TR
Chamlian
Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) - Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Escola Paulista de Medicina - São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Moisés
M
Cohen
Anterior cruciate ligament; Cryotherapy; Pain measurement; Range of motion, articular