title: Femoral quadriceps neuromuscular electrical stimulation after total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation in patients submitted to total knee arthroplasty. This was a systematic review with no language or publication status restriction. Our search was made in Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Embase and LILACS. Randomized or quasi-randomized clinical trials evaluating neuromuscular electrical stimulation after total knee arthroplasty were included. Four studies with moderate risk of bias and low statistical power were included, totalizing 376 participants. There was no statistically significant difference in knee function, pain and range of motion during 12 month follow-up. This review concluded that neuromuscular electrical stimulation was less effective than traditional rehabilitation in function, muscular strength and range of motion. However, this technique was useful for quadriceps activation during the first days after surgery.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Helena Bruna Bettoni
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Volpato
authors.affiliation: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Szego
authors.affiliation: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lenza
authors.affiliation: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvia Lefone
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Milan
authors.affiliation: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Talerman
authors.affiliation: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferretti
mesh_terms: D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000534:rehabilitation; D017594:Publication Bias; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome