title: The effect of mechanical massage on early outcome after total knee arthroplasty: a pilot study.
abstract: [Purpose] The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of mechanical massage via Endermologie(®) after total knee arthroplasty in reducing edema and pain and improving knee range of motion, in the early postoperative period. [Subjects and Methods] Eighteen patients with knee edema following total knee arthroplasty were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n=8) or the control group (n=10). The intervention group received mechanical massage therapy using Endermologie(®) and the control group received conventional physical therapy for 20 minutes a day, 5 times a week from the seventh day postsurgery. Clinical assessments included active knee flexion and extension range of motion, knee pain using a numeric rating scale, the operated limb circumference, the soft tissue cross-sectional area using ultrasonography, the extracelluar fluid volume, and single frequency bioimpedance analysis at 5 kHz using bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy. [Results] Both groups showed significant reduction in edema and pain, and improvement in active knee flexion at the end of treatment. There were no significant inter-group differences before or after treatment. [Conclusion] Mechanical massage could be an alternative way of managing knee edema after total knee arthroplasty in early postoperative recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Mi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Rim
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Ki
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Bo Ryun
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Han
keywords: Edema; Mechanical massage; Total knee arthroplasty