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| Journal of the New Zealand Medical Association,
28-October-2005, Vol 118 No 1224
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The efficacy of EMG-biofeedback training on quadriceps muscle
strength in patients after arthroscopic meniscectomy
Mehmet Kirnap, Mustafa Calis, Ali Osman Turgut, Mehmet
Halici, Mehmet Tuncel
After knee surgery, extensor capacity of the knee decreases
considerably. This muscle weakness occurs as a result of reflex inhibition of
motor neurones. It is defined as ‘pathogenic muscle weakness’ and is
not related to direct muscle injuries.1–3
During the postoperative inactivation process, quadriceps
femoris muscle (responsible for the extensor mechanism) weakness is an important
problem during the postoperative rehabilitation programme. Despite the advances
in knee surgery, postoperative degenerative changes in joint cartilage, and
observation of problems such as functional capacity deficit in extensor muscles,
all force the investigators to develop rehabilitation protocols to minimise
postoperative problems.4
The EMG-B instrument, which is mainly used for muscle
re-education and relaxation, is a sensitive volt meter that can record muscle
activities (superficially as μV or by rarely used needle electrodes).5,6
EMG-B is generally used to provide muscle re-education, and
to regain muscle strength in cases of muscle weakness.7,8 It is also applied in
the treatment of muscle weaknesses due to postoperative immobilisation in
orthopaedic rehabilitation. A patient’s compliance to the exercise program
can be improved by addition of EMG-B to the classical rehabilitation programs
that are applied in those patients.9–11
In this study, we investigated whether the addition of EMG-B
application to postoperative classical home exercise program after athroscopic
meniscectomy patients is effective in improving quadriceps muscle strength in
the postoperative rehabilitation program.
Materials and MethodsDesign—Forty
patients who had undergone arthroscopic menisectomy were included in the study.
The patients were randomly divided into two equal groups: a biofeedback group
and a control group.
The same exercise programme (conventional home-exercise
programme) consisting of three phases was given to the patients in both groups
from the postoperative first day. In the first phase of the exercise programme,
cold application, quadriceps setting, patellar mobilisation, and straight-leg
raising exercises were done; in the second phase, hip adductor strengthening and
terminal knee extension exercises were done additionally (and in addition to)
the above; while in the third phase, closed kinetic chain exercises and lateral
step up exercises were applied. Furthermore, EMG-B training was applied to the
patients in EMG-B group from the postoperative third day for 2 weeks.
The patients were followed up for 6 weeks. The
measurements were performed preoperatively, on the postoperative 3rd and 14th
days, and on the 6th week according to the assessment criteria.
Assessment criteria:
Knee circumferences were measured
from the middle part of the patella, and thigh circumferences were measured by
marking the anterior aspect of the thigh at 15 cm proximal to the patella.
Passive joint ranges of motions (ROM) were measured by goniometry.
Biofeedback training was performed with a Myomed 932
myofeedback unit (Enraf-Nonius®, serial no: 11490, Netherlands). During
therapy and testing sessions, two active electrodes of the first channel of the
instrument were placed 4 cm above the upper edge of patella on the VMO muscle
and at 3 cm medial at an angle of 55° by the vertical plane; active
electrodes of the second channel were placed 10 cm above the upper edge of
patella on the VL muscle and at 6–8 cm lateral at an angle of 15° by
vertical plane. The ground electrode was placed 2–3 cm below the patella
on the same side of the limb.13
For measurements, the instrument were adjusted to give
audible stimulation when a contraction above the threshold value with work time
of 5 sec, rest time of 10 sec and 20 cycles was performed. The patients were
asked to perform isometric quadriceps contraction during the
work period.
Thus, the patient provided visual feedback by watching
the contractions on the screen and provided audible feedback by signal sound
when it exceeded the threshold value. The EMG-biofeedback test was performed
with the patient sitting. During the test sessions on control days, maximum and
average contraction values of VMO and VL muscles (that are defined in both
groups of the patients at the end of 20 sets by the biofeedback instrument) were
recorded.
For the patients in the EMG-B group, a biofeedback
training session starting from the postoperative third day was applied once
daily for 5 days per week. The patients had to contract their quadriceps muscle
more strongly by increasing the threshold value every day.
Statistical
analyses—Repeat measures ANOVA and student t-test were used to
determine the differences between the controls and study group, respectively.
Chi-squared tests were carried out, for qualitative data. All data were
evaluated using the SPSS 9.0 statistical software program. Mean values were
considered significantly different if p<0.05.
ResultsAll of the patients were male and their average age was
34.5±10.3. There was no significant difference in age between the control
and biofeedback groups, nor right/left and dominant/non-dominant sides of
operated limbs (p>0.05, p>0.05 respectively). There was no difference
according to operation scheme between the control and EMG-B groups (p<0.05)
(Table 1).
Table 1. Distribution of patients with operated
extremity according to right/ left and dominant/nondominant side
MM: medial meniscus; LM: lateral meniscus.
No statistically significant difference was detected between
the control and biofeedback groups for average values of operated extremity
thigh and knee circumferences that were measured pre- and postoperatively, and
at the 3rd and14th day and 6th week (p>0.05, p>0.05 respectively).
When we compared the joint ranges of motions, no
statistically significant difference was detected between the control and
biofeedback groups for average values of flexion angle in the operated limb
preoperatively, and on the postoperative 3rd day, while a significant difference
was detected on the 14th day and 6th week in favour of the biofeedback group
(p<0.05) (Table 2).
Table 2. Operated extremity knee flexion angle values
at baseline, 3rd day, 14th day, and 6th week
No statistically significant difference was found between
the groups in Lysholm knee score preoperatively and on the postoperative 3rd
day; however when Lysholm knee scores on the 14th day and 6th week were
compared, it was found that there was statistically significant difference in
favour of the biofeedback group (p<0.05) (Table 3).
Table 3. Lysholm knee scores values at baseline, 3rd
day, 14th day, and 6th week
During the preoperative evaluations, the only parameter that
was significantly different between the groups was in operated/non-operated %age
ratio of average contraction value of VMO muscle (p<0.05). On the other hand,
as in the other parameters, there was no difference in average contraction value
of VL muscle, preoperatively.
No statistically differences were found between the groups
for maximum contraction and average contraction values of VMO and VL muscles
preoperatively and at postoperative 3rd day in operated/non-operated %age ratios
(except for preoperative VMO average contraction) while there was a
statistically significant difference on the 14th day and 6th week (Figures 1, 2,
3, and 4).
Figure 1. Operated/non-operated % ratio of maximum
contraction value of vastus medialis obliques (VMO) muscle
 Figure 2. Operated/non-operated % ratio of maximum
contraction value of vastus lateralis (VL) muscle
 Figure 3. Operated/non-operated % ratio of average
contraction value of VMO muscle
 Figure 4. Operated/non-operated % ratio of average
contraction value of VL muscle
 DiscussionA strong correlation exists between quadriceps muscle
strength and functional stability of the knee.14 After knee surgery, a strong
quadriceps muscle is required for normal joint kinematics and to return the
patient back to normal activities. Additionally, for the normal walking pattern
not to be effected negatively, quadriceps muscle strengthening exercises are
important in both conservative treatment and postoperative rehabilitation
protocols of the knee.15–19
A 20–30% deficit was detected during flexion and
extension (especially in patients who had preoperative meniscus lesions), and
this deficit in knee function with effusions have been mostly observed in the
quadriceps muscles.20 In our study, we have also seen that preoperative meniscus
lesion causes quadriceps muscle inhibition and that affects the VMO muscle more
than the VL muscle. Our results suggest that there is a difference in affected
ratios between VMO and VL muscles during preoperative period.
Postoperative data has suggested that VMO muscle was also
more affected than VL muscle postoperatively. This result supports those studies
showing that VMO muscle is more affected during knee injuries.21
It has been reported that quadriceps inhibition continues
for 6 month following arthroscopic knee surgery, and the inhibition effects are
observed not only in the operated extremity but also in the intact extremity.22
Stam et al23 detected a 13% deficit in maximum isometric torque and a 28%
deficit in maximum isokinetic torque 8 weeks after meniscectomy.
In the early postoperative period, there is a transient
decrease in proprioceptive feedback due to several factors such as pain and
oedema. Because of this, conventional exercises could not be done effectively
during the early postoperative period. This negativity can be dealt with by
visual and audible feedbacks from the EMG-B instrument substituting for muscle
strength, tendon tension, and joint position feedbacks in a certain ratio.
Croce24 has investigated that the effect of EMG-B
application on quadriceps muscle strengthening in healthy volunteers, and EMG
values of muscle activity and quadriceps muscle strengthening in the EMG-B group
were found to be significantly greater than those in the placebo and
non-biofeedback groups.
Maitland et al25 reported that knee stability could be
increased and quadriceps inhibition decreased by EMG-B-assisted
quadriceps-hamstring contraction education in the unstable knee. In a study
comparing operated/non-operated age ratios of the groups (measuring isokinetic
test and peak torque values of patients in that EMG-B application added to a
classical rehabilitation programme during postoperative period and in patients
with anterior transverse ligament reconstruction), higher peak torque age ratios
were recorded in the biofeedback group.11
In a study comparing operated/non-operated ratios of the
groups (in which isokinetic test and peak torque values were measured in
patients having EMG-B application in addition to a classical rehabilitation
programme during postoperative period following anterior transverse ligament
reconstruction), higher peak torque ratios were recorded in the biofeedback
group.11
In a study of meniscectomy patients, Krebs et al9
administrated a classical exercise program to a group, and an additional EMG-B
to another group; and after treatment, they detected that the average electrical
activity output difference in the biofeedback group was 10 times greater than
the group in which only the exercise programme was administrated. Similarly,
when electrical stimulation and EMG-B were compared in patients in whom
arthroscopic anterior transverse ligament reconstructions were administrated,
EMG-B administration was shown to be more effective.10
In the records obtained on postoperative 14th day and 6th
week, there was a significant difference between electrical activity levels of
VMO and VL muscles and quadriceps muscle strength in favour of biofeedback
group. Additionally, knee flexion angle and Lysholm scores in the patients of
this group were significantly better on the 14th day and 6th week.
Thus these results show the effectiveness of EMG-B in the
functional improvement of the knee, possibly provided by its positive effect on
quadriceps muscle strength. Our results are consistent with other results in the
literature, in that EMG-B was a very effective modality in increasing muscle
strength.10,11,24,26
Furthermore, these results show that during the
postoperative period there is more rapid improvement, and quadriceps muscle
strength could be increased greater in patients to whom EMG-B is administrated.
Indeed, EMG biofeedback application may be beneficial for postoperative
rehabilitation protocols of knee pathologies and conservative programmes.
Ethics approval:
This study was carried out with the prior approval of the Ethics Committee
of Erciyes University.
Author information:
Mehmet Kirnap, Professor, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department;
Mustafa Calis, Assistant Professor, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Department; Ali Osman Turgut, MD, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Department; Mehmet Halici, Associate Professor, Orthopaedics and Traumatology
Department; Mehmet Tuncel, Professor, Orthopaedics and Traumatology Department;
Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
Acknowledgements:
This study was supported by a grant (02-54) from the Directorate of Scientific
Research Projects, Erciyes University.
Correspondence: Dr
Mustafa Calis, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical
Faculty, Erciyes University, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey. Fax: +90 352 4378553; email:
mcalis@erciyes.edu.tr
References:
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