Development of evaluation of tissue adhesion around knee joint using ultrasonography

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K24282
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0909:Sports sciences, physical education, health sciences, and related fields
• Research Institution: Shinshu University
• Principal Investigator: Kitagawa Takashi 信州大学, 学術研究院保健学系, 助教 (10848922)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-08-30 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 超音波画像 / 膝関節

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) plays a biomechanical role in the knee joint. After knee injury or surgery, the dynamics of the IPFP decrease due to inflammatory response. Physical therapy might be one of the useful treatments to recover the mobility of the knee joint. This prospective, single-blind, randomised controlled trial aimed to evaluate the immediate effect of physical therapy on the dynamics of the IPFP in healthy participants using ultrasonography. Sixty-four healthy young participants were enrolled and randomly assigned to one of three interventions: manual therapy, hot pack treatment, and control. Ultrasound images of the IPFP were taken before and after intervention. The thickness change ratio of the IPFP was calculated to compare the changes between groups and within groups pre- and post-intervention, and no significant differences were observed. There might be no immediate effect of manual therapy or hot pack intervention on IPFP flexibility in healthy participants.

Free Research Field

リハビリテーション科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ひざの怪我や手術の後のリハビリテーションの現場においては、しばしば上述の脂肪組織に対するマッサージなどの処置がなされることが多い。それらは慣習的になされてきた経緯があるが、少なくとも今回の限られた対象者においてはその効果は非常に乏しいことが示唆された。今後は実際の患者様に対し類似の結果が得られるのかを検証していくことで、本邦のリハビリテーション技術の向上につながることが期待される。