16Effect of Heat and Cold on Tendon Flexibility and Force to Flex the Human Knee
Medical Science Monitor (2013) · Jerrold Scott Petrofsky, Michael Laymon, Haneul Lee
This study quantified the effects of heat and cold on knee tendon flexibility and the force required to flex the knee. Twenty male and female subjects participated in four experimental conditions: (1) room temperature, (2) cold application (ice pack for 20 min), (3) heat application (hydrocollator heat packs for 20 min), and (4) prolonged heat application (ThermaCare heat wraps for 4 hours). Ligament extensibility was measured using a KT2000 arthrometer, and the force required for knee flexion was assessed using continuous passive motion (CPM). Results showed that heat increased the flexibility of the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments and reduced the force required for knee flexion by about 25%, while cold had the opposite effect. These findings suggest that heat therapy may enhance flexibility and reduce injury risk, whereas cold therapy may restrict movement.
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44Overuse Injuries of the Knee
Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy (2009) · Noyes FR, Barber-Westin SD
This review explores the mechanisms and progression of overuse injuries in the knee, focusing on how repetitive microtrauma without adequate recovery leads to chronic joint pathologies. The authors describe how persistent cartilage stress and insufficient healing can contribute to the development of bursitis, patellofemoral disorders, and degenerative conditions. These findings support the concept that unresolved cartilage injuries can eventually result in bursitis through cumulative joint overload and tissue response.
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4Effects of Far-Infrared Radiation Lamp Therapy on Recovery from Muscle Damage
European Journal of Sport Science (2023) · Trevor C. Chen, Yuh-Chuan Huang, Tai-Ying Chou, Sheng-Tsung Hsu, Mei-Yen Chen, Kazunori Nosaka
This study examined the effects of far-infrared radiation (FIR) lamp therapy on muscle damage and proprioception following eccentric exercise of the elbow and knee flexors. In a controlled experiment, 24 sedentary women received either FIR therapy or a sham treatment. The FIR group showed significantly faster recovery in muscle strength and proprioception, reduced muscle soreness by 55-60%, and lowered peak plasma creatine kinase activity by 45-89%. FIR therapy accelerated recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage more effectively than previously studied interventions.
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11Shortwave Diathermy Enhances Hamstring Flexibility
Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy (2004) · D.O. Draper, J.L. Castro, B. Feland, S. Schulthies, D. Eggett
This study examined whether shortwave diathermy enhances hamstring flexibility when combined with stretching. Thirty college students with tight hamstrings were divided into three groups: (1) diathermy plus stretching, (2) sham diathermy plus stretching, and (3) control. After five days, the diathermy group improved knee extension by 15.8°, significantly more than the sham group (5.2°) and the control (-0.3°). Flexibility gains were better maintained in the diathermy group. These results suggest that combining shortwave diathermy with stretching is an effective method to improve and sustain hamstring flexibility.
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28Meniscectomy Often No Better Than Conservative Treatment
American Journal of Sports Medicine (2013) · Ji-Hyeon Yim, Jong-Keun Seon, Eun-Kyoo Song, Jun-Ik Choi, Min-Cheol Kim, Keun-Bae Lee, Hyoung-Yeon Seo
This randomized controlled trial compared outcomes of arthroscopic meniscectomy versus nonoperative treatment with strengthening exercises in 102 patients with degenerative horizontal medial meniscus tears. After 2 years, there were no significant differences in pain relief, knee function, or patient satisfaction between the two groups. The findings support the use of conservative treatment as a viable alternative to surgery in many cases.
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29Surgery Does Not Improve Long-Term Outcomes in Degenerative Meniscus Tears
British Journal of Sports Medicine (2020) · Raine Sihvonen, Mika Paavola, Antti Malmivaara, Ari Itälä, Antti Joukainen, Juha Kalske, Heikki Nurmi, Jaanika Kumm, Niko Sillanpää, Tommi Kiekara, Aleksandra Turkiewicz, Pirjo Toivonen, Martin Englund, Simo Taimela, Teppo L N Järvinen
This 5-year follow-up of the FIDELITY randomized, placebo-surgery controlled trial assessed the long-term effects of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM) in 146 adults with degenerative medial meniscus tears. Compared to placebo surgery, APM showed no benefit in knee symptoms, function, or pain reduction, but was associated with a slightly higher risk of radiographic knee osteoarthritis. The findings suggest that APM does not offer long-term advantages and may accelerate joint degeneration in this population.
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80Short-Term NSAIDs Are Safe for Soft Tissue but Impair Bone Healing
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy (2013) · Chen MR, Dragoo JL
This critical review analyzed 44 studies to evaluate the effects of NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors on both soft tissue and bone healing. The review found that there is insufficient evidence of a detrimental effect when using either NSAIDs or COX-2 inhibitors at standard doses for 2 weeks or less on soft tissue healing. However, for soft tissue to bone healing, a limited number of studies did demonstrate impairment. With respect to bone healing, indomethacin showed a clear detrimental effect, with less substantial evidence for other NSAIDs. The study concludes that short-term, low-dose use of NSAIDs does not appear to harm soft tissue recovery following injury, but is inhibitory in cases where bone healing is required. This distinction is clinically important because it demonstrates that NSAIDs can be used selectively depending on the type of tissue being treated. For soft tissue injuries such as tendon, ligament, and muscle injuries, short-term NSAID use may be appropriate to manage inflammation. However, when bone healing is involved, such as fractures or spinal fusion, NSAIDs should be avoided. The review emphasizes that the prudent use of anti-inflammatory medications following sports medicine injuries is a reasonable option unless bone healing is a concern.
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