In this article, we will discuss the rationale behind passive exercise to prevent contractures.
The word "contracture" may sound unfamiliar to you unless you are a specialist, but it refers to a condition in which a joint becomes stiff.
Contracture is something that must be avoided in rehabilitation, and measures such as exercise therapy have been taken. When I was looking for evidence of this, I found some very interesting results.
I was looking for evidence of this, and found some interesting results. There is a lot of research in this article, so you can just read the conclusion.
The conclusion is that it is not clear whether passive motion (PM) is effective in the treatment and prevention of contractures.
Prabhu RKR, Swaminathan N, Harvey LA. Passive Exercise for the Treatment and Prevention of Contractures Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, No. 12. Number: CD009331. doi: 10.1002 / 14651858.CD009331.pub2.
The study
As for the studies, PM was randomized and compared from two studies, with a total of 122 participants with neurological symptoms.
The study that included 20 participants (40 limbs) measured ankle joint mobility and reported a mean group difference of 4 degrees (95% confidence interval (CI), 2-6 degrees) in favor of the experimental group. However, none of the studies reported a clinically or statistically relevant reduction in spasticity PM
One study found that the mean difference on a total 48-point modified Ashworth scale for the upper extremities was one of 48 points. (95% CI minus 2 to 4 points)
In the other study, the median difference on the 6-point modified Ashworth scale for ankle plantar flexors was zero points. (95% CI minus one to zero points)
In both studies, negative differences between groups indicated a reduction in spasticity in the experimental group compared to the control group.
One study, with a total of 102 participants, reported short-term effects on pain. GRADE-level evidence for the effects of PM on joint mobility, spasticity and pain is very low.
Conclusion
As for whether passive exercise is helpful or not, according to the results of this study, it is unclear whether it is clinically useful or not. However, since it is a common practice in clinical settings based on unsubstantiated beliefs, health care professionals must practice it while properly measuring its effectiveness.
