Review article
KINESIOTHERAPY AFTER MEDIAL COLLATERAL LIGAMENT INJURY OF THE KNEE
Iva Šklempe Kokić
; Odjel za studij fizioterapije, Veleučilište «Lavoslav Ružička» u Vukovaru
Melita Uremović
; Poliklinika Domnius, Zagreb
Tomislav Kokić
; Klinika za kirurgiju Kliničkog bolničkog centra Zagreb
Abstract
Injury of the medial collateral ligament of the knee is
one of the most frequent knee injuries (1, 30, 37).
Popularity of sports like skiing and soccer contributes
toward high incidence of this type of injury (26, 30).
Medial collateral ligament of the knee is primary static
stabiliser of the medial part of the knee (49) and it's very
important to determine optimal rehabilitation strategy
after the injury. Lesion of the medial collateral ligament
are followed by joint instability associated with damage
and neuromuscular deficit (14).
Purpose of this article is to describe guidelines for
kinesiotherapy application after isolated injuries of the
medial collateral ligament of all grades of severity. The
most important features of rehabilitation program for
three grades of severity, respectively, are described. There
is consensus in literature regarding effectiveness of
conservative treatment of isolated medial collateral
ligament injuries of all grades because of its structural
characteristics wich enable healing without surgical
treatment. Surgical treatment is recommended for
combined injuries of medial collateral ligament and other
knee joint structures, injury of anterior cruciate ligament
being the most frequent.
Focus of rehabilitation protocol is on the
kinesiotherapy, specifically graded application of
therapeutic exercise. Although there are several
descriptions of rehabilitation and kinesitherapeutic
protocols in literature, these programs are based upon
clinical experience and non randomized trials. Specific
rehabilitation protocols based upon randomised clinical
trials are still non existent. Understanding the mechanism
and classification of injury and exclusion of other knee
structures injuries is necessary to determine optimal
rehabilitation program. It is important to start with graded
therapeutic exercises from the earliest rehabilitation phase
to prevent unnecessary muscular atrophy and loss of range
of movement caused by oedema.
With correct implementation of rehabilitation
program return to previous level of functioning after
injuries of I. and II. grade is relatively fast. For optimal
rehabilitation success therapeutic exercises program
should be individually adjusted to every athlete. In some
cases, the use of functional orthosis during sports events is
justified.
Keywords
medial collateral ligament; knee; rehabilitation; kinesitherapy; therapeutic exercises
Hrčak ID:
87697
URI
Publication date:
10.7.2012.
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