The effects of pulsed low frequency magnetic field in early rehabilitation of patients with cementless total hip arthroplasty

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Early rehabilitation of patients with cementless total hip arthroplasty (cTHA) includes different physical modalities and pulsed low frequency magnetic field (PLFMF), which effects have not been explored yet. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of PLFMF which was applied in different doses in early rehabilitation of patients with METHOD: Prospective, controlled, clinical study included 90 patients, divided in three groups with 30 patients each. First two groups were treated with high (group A) or low (group B) doses of PLFMF, in addition to kinesitherapy. Control group C was treated only with kinesitherapy. Study was completed in three weeks. RESULTS: Subjects of group A had significantly lower pain than group B (p < 0.01) and group C (p < 0.001) subjects in the first postoperative week. Pain in group B subjects was significantly lower than in group C in all three postoperative weeks (p < 0.01). In relation to other two groups, subjects of group A had higher hip Harris score values at the end of the third post-operative week (p < 0.05), and they were faster on 10-meter distance at the end of the first postoperative week (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: PLFMF used in low and high doses for patients with cTHA had significant effects on pain abatement, especially at higher doses. Improvement of function was earlier and more manifested in the group treated with high doses of PLFMF.