Politics & Electrical Therapy | Feb '99 Newsletter

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

Therapy Closeup

Cover Story:
The Politics of Electrical Therapy.

Therapy Closeup:
Patello-Femoral Maltracking.

Bit's n' Pieces:
MET: The Big Picture. What's it all about?

The Fact Files:
Scientific research in support of Electrical Stimulation for post-operative pain relief.

Patello-Femoral Maltracking

Pain at the front of the knee, usually below the knee cap. Usually becomes much worse after sitting with the knee bent for any length of time.

Caused by the knee cap (patella) failing to slide within its groove on the thigh bone (femur). Technically, this condition is referred to as Patello-Femoral Maltracking.

Usually associated with a loss of bulk or co-ordination in the quadricep (thigh) muscle - particularly the 'tear drop' shaped part of this muscle on the inner side of the knee. Due to this muscular weakness on the inner side of the knee, the tendons and connective tissue on the outer side of the knee shorten and become tight.

Aims of Treatment
Strengthening of the muscle on the inner side of the knee cap, and stretching of the structures on the outer side of the knee.

Electrical Treatment

Electrical stimulation is an excellent and easy means of helping to relieve pains of this nature.
Electrodes are placed over the affected muscle.

Very Weak Inner Thigh Muscle
(noticeable difference in size to the unaffected side)

Weak Inner Thigh Muscle
(smaller and softer when contracted, compared to the unaffected side)

Poorly Co-Ordinated Inner Thigh Muscle
(appears of the same size and tone as the muscle of the unaffected side, but knee pain continues)

Intensity
2-3 moderate

2-4 moderate - strong

2-4 moderate - strong

Rate
H

H

H

Constant/Modulated
Constant

Constant

Constant

Analgesic/Surge
Surge

Surge

Surge

Contract time (secs)
6

6

6

Relax time (secs)
12

6

2

Duration (mins)
5-10

10-15

20-30

Repetition
3 times daily

2 times daily

once daily

Remember: Do not have the next session of stimulation if still sore/tender from the last session. This is already reflected in the fact that as the protocol demands for harder exercise sessions, the frequency of sessions goes down.

Complimentary Treatment
Cross friction to the tendon of the muscle on the outer side of the knee - Ilio-Tibial Band (applied by a physiotherapist), outward stretching of the knee cap (applied by a physiotherapist).

Prognosis
Pain relief is maximized as the inner thigh muscle is strengthened. Together with stretching of the knee cap and cross friction massage to the tightened outer structures of the knee - pain can be full eliminated within 2 weeks.

If pain persists, consult your doctor.

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