title: Manual khalifa therapy improves functional and morphological outcome of patients with anterior cruciate ligament rupture in the knee: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: Rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a high incidence injury usually treated surgically. According to common knowledge, it does not heal spontaneously, although some claim the opposite. Regeneration therapy by Khalifa was developed for injuries of the musculoskeletal system by using specific pressure to the skin. This randomized, controlled, observer-blinded, multicentre study was performed to validate this assumption. Thirty patients with complete ACL rupture, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) verified, were included. Study examinations (e.g., international knee documentation committee (IKDC) score) were performed at inclusion (t 0). Patients were randomized to receive either standardised physiotherapy (ST) or additionally 1 hour of Khalifa therapy at the first session (STK). Twenty-four hours later, study examinations were performed again (t 1). Three months later control MRI and follow-up examinations were performed (t 2). Initial status was comparable between both groups. There was a highly significant difference of mean IKDC score results at t 1 and t 2. After 3 months, 47% of the STK patients, but no ST patient, demonstrated an end-to-end homogeneous ACL in MRI. Clinical and physical examinations were significantly different in t 1 and t 2. ACL healing can be improved with manual therapy. Physical activity can be performed without pain and nearly normal range of motion after one treatment of specific pressure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports and Exercise Physiology, University of Vienna, Auf der Schmelz 6, 1150 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0964-0955
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ofner
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology, General Hospital Linz, 4020 Linz, Austria.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kastner
authors.affiliation: Hospital of Traumatology, 8020 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Engelbert
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wallenboeck
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology, General Hospital Kirchdorf, 4560 Kirchdorf, Austria.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pehn
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: Institute of Radiology, Medical University of Graz, 8043 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Groell
authors.affiliation: Institute of Radiology "Graz South-East", 8054 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Szolar
authors.affiliation: Institute of Transcultural Health Studies, European University Viadrina, 15207 Frankfurt Oder, Germany.
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Walach
authors.affiliation: Stronach Research Unit for Complementary and Integrative Laser Medicine, Research Unit of Biomedical Engineering in Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, and TCM Research Center Graz, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6287-0130
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Litscher
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sandner-Kiesling