The effects of ultrashortwave therapy and passive motion on osteoarthritis of the knee joint in the rabbits / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effects of uhrashortwave therapy and passive motion on experimen-tal osteoarthritis caused by immobilization of the joint. Methods Twenty healthy male rabbits had their left knee joints fixed in extension for 4 weeks. They were randomly divided into 4 groups a control group which did not receive any treatment, an uhrashortwave therapy group, a passive motion group, and an ultrashortwave therapy plus passive motion group, and treated accordingly for 4 weeks. The range of motion of the joint before and after treatment was compared in every group. At the end of the 4th week, all the rabbits were sacrificed, and the cartilage at the condylus medialis femoris was sampled and observed with toluidine blue staining, haematoxylin-eosin staining. Its gross appearance was noted and it was also analyzed using immunohistochemical techniques. Results ①Passive range of motion (PROM) there were no significant differences among the 4 groups before the treatment. Uhrashortwave therapy per se did not yield significant therapeutic effects in terms of PROM as compared to the controls, However, passive motion alone and in conjunction with ultrashortwave therapy brought about significant improvement of PROM when compared against the control group. The most significant change was seen in the integrated group, followed by the passive motion group. ②The histological scoring system Mankin's scoring system showed significant differences a-mong all 4 groups. The highest value was the control group, which was followed by the ultrashortwave therapy group, the passive motion group and the integrated group. ③The positive expression rate of inducible nitric oxide synthase there were significant differences among all 4 groups. The control group had the highest values, followed by the ultra-shortwave treated group, the passive motion treated group and the integrated group. Conclusions Ultrashortwave therapy, passive motion therapy and integrated therapy combining ultrashortwave therapy with passive motion can all can reduce and prevent the cataplasia of articular cartilage. Integrated therapy is the best treatment method, followed by passive motion therapy, and then uhrashortwave therapy.