Ronzio O.A.1,2,3,4,5, da Silva Coldibeli E.6, Soares Fernandes M.D.R.6, Froes Meyer P.7,8, da Silva R.M.V.6,9
1Instituto Universitario Fundación H.A. Barceló, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2Universidad Nacional Arturo Jauretche, Florencio Varela, Argentina, 3Universidad Maimónides, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina, 4Universidad Favaloro, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina, 5Universidad Cuauhtémoc, Aguascalientes, Mexico, 6Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil, 7Potiguar University, Natal, Brazil, 8Universitary Center of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil, 9Faculty Maurício de Nassau, Natal, Brazil
Background: Achilles tendinopathy is the third most common disease in the musculoskeletal system. Most frequent symptoms include exercise induced pain and edema. Physical therapy has an important role in symptoms reduction, progression decrease and recovering function. In the last years new technologies have been proposed to treat tendinopathies, such us Percutaneous Microelectrolysis (MEP). This technique employs a galvanic current up to 990 uA, which is applied percutaneously with an acupuncture needle connected to the cathode, to promote a controlled inflammatory response and free radical inhibition.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of MEP on pain, range of motion (ROM) and matinal stiffness in patients with Achilles tendinopathy.
Methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial was carried out in Clínicas Integradas da Universidade Potiguar.
Twenty patients with Achilles tendinopathy that accepted to participate in this research were randomly divided into two groups.
Control Group (G1): 1- Warm up with a stationary bike for 10 minutes; 2- Stretching adductors, abductors, hamstrings and plantar flexors (3 x 30), two minutes rest between sets; 3- Friction massage the Achilles tendon; 4- Stretching of the plantar fascia; 5- Eccentric exercises for plantar flexors (3 sets x 15 reps). The treatment was applied twice a week during a month (eight sessions in total).
Treatment Group (G2): Same protocol of G1, plus MEP® once a week. MEP® (Fisiomove) was used as follows: 1 Disinfection of the treatment zone with alcohol. 2 - A 0.22x13 mm needle was introduced three times during each session, at different points in the Achilles tendon with an initial intensity of 100 uA (microamperes). 3 The intensity was increased up to 450 uA (microamperes). The on time was 20 seconds and the rest time 40 seconds, totaling to 3 minutes.
To assess the response to the treatments, some questions related to function and exercise participation included in Visa-A questionnaire, goniometry and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were used.
Data was analyzed using Paired and Independent T test, with a significance level of 5%.
Results: The reduction of pain (VAS) was significant between groups (p 0.05). A significant difference (p 0.05) in range of motion (ROM) in the ankle was observed for plantar flexion and eversion between groups. There was a significant improvement (p 0.05) in the VISA-A questionnaire in the G2.
Conclusion(s): Treatment Group with MEP® (G2) showed greater pain reduction, increased ankle ROM and the morning stiffness duration decreased when compared to the G1.
Implications: This study showed that MEP® is a promise technique for Achilles tendinopathies. The application of this therapeutic modality could impact favorably in the public health cost due to their simplicity.
Funding acknowledgements: This work has been supported by Universidade Potiguar.
Topic: Sport & sports injuries
Ethics approval: Clinical procedures started after the approval of the Research Ethics Committee of Universidade Potiguar (CEP/UNP) with protocol number 099/2011.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
