Impact of Different Physiotherapeutic Regimes on the Outcome after Knee Lesions and Gonarthrosis

Background: Post-injury or degenerative knee joint pain is one of the most common causes of chronic pain in industrialized
countries. It leads not only to a significant reduction in the quality of life and to disability, but also to the need for medical interventions with
considerable treatment costs. The 12-months prevalence of work disability is 5-22%. For these patients, effective physiotherapeutic and
physical treatment for recovery is very essential.
Patients & Therapies: A new therapeutic approach is Sanotaping®, in which standardized physiotherapy is combined with tapes
coated with metallized polymers (gold and silver). In the prospective randomized trial 110 patients were grouped according to the following
treatment regimes: A – physiotherapy only; B – physiotherapy + taping; C – physiotherapy + Sanotaping®. The 60-minute physiotherapy
included standardized physiotherapy, cold thermotherapy, electrotherapy, patella mobilization and isometric/isotonic stretching. All patients
were surveyed by regarding subjective efficacy parameters.
Results: 107 of 110 patients were enrolled in the study. 75 of them additionally answered the questionnaire. After 12 units the
combination of physiotherapy + Sanotaping® (group C) showed a significant pain reduction and a significant improvement of extension
and flexion compared to the groups with physiotherapy only or with standard tape. Additionally the patients of group C showed the greatest
reduction in swelling.
Conclusion: This prospective, randomized study indicated that the early application of physiotherapy is of utmost importance,
because the entire physiology is restored and the quality of life is improved. The excellent treatment results of the combined therapy of
Sanotaping® and physiotherapy as well as rehabilitative treatments should be emphasized. Its sustainability should be a basis for the
implementation of combined treatment with functionally applied, metallized polymers (Sanotaping®) in conservative as well as in pre- and
postoperative physiotherapy and rehabilitation.