EFFECT OF ERGON IASTM EDEMA REDUCTION TECHNIQUE IN KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS PATIENTS

Abstract

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a persistent and advancing condition that places a substantial socioeconomic strain on both society and healthcare systems (Dantas, Salvini, McAlindon, 2020, p.1). Prevention of this disease is limited due to low health literacy and barriers to lifestyle changes (Messier, et al, 2022). Objective: The objective is to follow the effect of the application of the "Ergon IASTM Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization" technique to reduce edema in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Study methodology: 24 patients with X-ray stage II and III arthritic changes in the knee joint were examined. Not everyone's symptoms match the radiological changes. They are distributed as follows: control group (CG) – 10 patients and experimental group (EG) – 14. The study methodology includes functional studies: centimetry of the knee joint to study edema before and after the 10-day treatment. In CG, the following is applied: electrotherapy - low-frequency magnetic pulse field with a duration of 15 min.; ultrasound therapy with a dosage of 0.4 W/cm3 with a duration of 10 min and cryotherapy 2 times for 5 minutes each (once during the kinesitherapy procedure, the second time at home - after the procedure in the evening - before going to bed). The EG applies: electrotherapy - low-frequency magnetic pulse field with a duration of 15 min.; ultrasound therapy with a dosage of 0.4 W/cm3 with a duration of 10 min once a day for 10 days and Ergon IASTM with techniques: rub, wave, snake, razor excav once a day for 3 days (total 3 times for the 10 days. Results: Centimetry of the knee joint before and after the 10-day application of the treatment. Control group (CG) 1 day through the joint gap was 68.6±7.9cm and 68.1±9.4cm on the 10th day. Experimental group (EG) across the joint gap was 61.8±9.49 and 60.5±9.96cm. Statistical data show a reduction in edema in the subjects examined. The differences in the centimetry values in the two measurement periods are statistically significant (p<0.05). These data indicate an individual response in the reduction of edema after the application of "Ergon IASTM" technique for reducing swelling in the knee joint in gonarthrosis depending on the injury, accompanying diseases and other factors, which should be further established. Discussion: No data were found in the literature to investigate the effect of the Ergon IASTM technique in reducing edema in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee joint. The methodology applied in the experimental group is more effective than the one applied in the control group, because it leads to a reduction of swelling in the area of the knee joint. Due to the small number of subjects studied and their 10-day treatment, a larger study and a longer treatment period are needed in the future.