| Objective: To observe the effect of muscle energy technique (MET) combined with static progressive stretch (SPS) on the elbow function in patient with posttraumatic stiff elbow. Methods: Seventy-eight posttraumatic stiff elbow patients were randomized into control group and experiment group with 39 cases in each group. Both groups received the same conventional rehabilitation treatments including exercise therapy, mobilization, occupational therapy, physical factor therapy and Chinese medicine fumigation for 4 weeks. Control group was treated by SPS on the basis of conventional therapy, and treatment group was treated by MET combined with SPS on the basis of conventional therapy. The active range of movement (AROM), visual analogue scale (VAS), hospital for special surgery (HSS), modified barthel index (MBI), general self efficacy scale (GSES) were measured before and after 4 weeks of treatment. Results: Compared with before treatment, both groups had significant improvement on AROM, HHS, MBI and GSES (all P<0.01), and the scores of VAS were decreased when compared with those before treatment (P<0.01). After treatment, the experiment group had significant improvement on AROM, HHS and GSES (all P<0.05) as compared with the control group, and the VAS scores were lower in the treatment group than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Muscle energy technique combined with static progressive stretch might be more effective to improve function performance and self efficacy of posttraumatic stiff elbow patients. |
