Low Load Prolonged Stretch vs. High Load Brief Stretch in Treatment of Knee Contracture after Burn

AHMAD A. MOHAMMED, Ph.D., HAIDY N. ASHM, Ph.D.;; YASSMIN M. EL-TABAKH, M.Sc., KHADRA M. ALI, Ph.D.;

doi:10.21608/mjcu.2020.110950

Low Load Prolonged Stretch vs. High Load Brief Stretch in Treatment of Knee Contracture after Burn

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

The Department of Physical Therapy for Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy*, The Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine**, Cairo University and Physical Therapy Department, 6th October Hospital***

10.21608/mjcu.2020.110950

Abstract

Abstract Background: Burn is defined as a traumatic injury to the skin or other organic tissue primarily caused by thermal or other acute exposures. Burns occur when some or all of the cells in the skin or other tissues are destroyed by heat, cold, electricity, radiation, or caustic chemicals. Burns are acute wounds caused by an isolated, non-recurring insult and progress rapidly through an orderly series of healing steps. Aim of Study: This study was conducted to investigate effect of low load prolonged stretchvs. High load brief stretch post burn knee contracture. Subjects and Methods: Thirty patients with knee contrac-ture following burn were conducted in the present study. All patients with age ranged from 25 to 45 years. They were selected from Om Al-Masreen Hospital, and Kasr El-Ainy Hospital. Patients assigned randomly into two groups (A and B) equal in number: Group (A) fifteen patients received low load prolonged stretch using weights (sand bags) 3 times/ week for 4 successful weeks. Group (B) fifteen patients received manual stretch 3 times/week for 4 successful weeks. Evaluation: Evaluations of both groups (A and B) were done before starting the treatment and at the end of study by Goniometer and Foot print to measure range of motion and cadence pre and post-treatment. Results: This study showed a statistically significant increase of knee joint ROM with percentage of improvement (14.4±4.89) in group (A), compared with group (B) with percentage of improvement (19.4±5.15). Conclusion: The present study concluded that low load prolonged stretch is more effective than high load brief stretch in treatment of knee contracture after burn.

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