| Objective To evaluate the short-term efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave (ESW) combined with conventional rehabilitation in treating traumatic knee contracture. Methods This study used a prospective randomized controlled trial design. Researchers not involved in the treatment used a random number table to assign 48 patients with traumatic knee joint contracture admitted to the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from December 2023 to January 2025 into the conventional rehabilitation group and the extracorporeal shock wave group, with 24 patients in each group. The conventional rehabilitation group received standard rehabilitation treatments such as joint mobilization, stretching, and muscle strength training, while the extracorporeal shock wave group received extracorporeal shock wave therapy in addition to conventional rehabilitation, twice a week, for a 2-week treatment course in both groups. After the treatment course, the differences between the two groups were observed for the following indicators: primary outcomes were active knee flexion angle and VAS score; secondary outcomes were peak torque (PT) of flexor and extensor muscles, H/Q ratio, proprioceptive deviation, and Lysholm knee function score. Results Before treatment, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in active knee flexion angle, VAS score, flexor and extensor muscle PT, H/Q ratio, proprioceptive deviation, or Lysholm knee function score (P > 0.05). After 2 weeks of treatment, all indicators in both groups improved compared to before treatment (P < 0.001). The active knee flexion angle after treatment in the extracorporeal shock wave group was better than that of the conventional rehabilitation group at the same time (P < 0.05), and the difference before and after treatment was greater than in the conventional rehabilitation group (P < 0.05); the VAS score after treatment in the extracorporeal shock wave group was significantly lower than that in the conventional rehabilitation group (P < 0.05); the flexor and extensor muscle PT, H/Q ratio, proprioceptive deviation at knee positions of 30° and 45°, and Lysholm score after treatment in the extracorporeal shock wave group were all superior to the conventional rehabilitation group (P < 0.05). No serious adverse events were observed, with only one case of mild subcutaneous ecchymosis. Conclusion Adding ESW to conventional rehabilitation can further reduce pain and improve function within 2 weeks, suggesting that ESW may be an effective adjuvant therapy for traumatic knee contracture. However, given the small sample size and short follow-up period, larger studies with longer follow-up are needed to confirm its efficacy. |
