A Winning Combination
By Draper, David O.; Rehab Management, Vol. 16, No. 9, pp. 18-21Publication Date: November 2003
Article presents a case study where ultrasound and joint mobilizations were effectively used on a frozen joint, and provides a rationale for why these two modalities are so effective when used together. A 22-year-old man was examined by the Brigham Young University Therapeutic Modality Research Laboratory in April of 2003. When he was 19, a surgeon accidentally severed three extensor tendons in his hand while trying to extract a ganglion cyst. Following prolonged immobilization in a splint, he underwent extensive physical therapy that included ultrasound and stretching to help restore range of motion. Three years after the injury, his wrist movement was still very limited, as flexion was 49 degrees out of a possible 80- to 90-degree range, and extension was 65 degrees out of a possible 80. The treatment administered at Brigham Young included ultrasound to heat the tissue, immediately followed by joint mobilizations and wrist traction. The participant saw immediate improvement of 6 degrees in flexion and 7 degrees in extension following the first treatment session. By the end of the third session, the participant had gained 23 degrees of flexion and 15 degrees of extension, with near normal bilateral range of motion. Six months after the treatments, the participant had maintained the range of motion that was gained from the ultrasound and the mobilization measures.
Published by: Ascend Media LLC (Website:http://www.ascendmedia.com)
This publication is included in the library of the National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC), accession number J46411
