Clinical Electromyographic Feedback Following Meniscectomy

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the relative effectiveness of electromyographic feedback and conventional physical therapy in the recovery of quadriceps femoris muscle function following uncomplicated meniscectomy. Contributions of patient characteristics and elements related to the surgery were also evaluated, using multiple regression techniques. Twenty-two men and four women were randomly assigned to two groups. One group received a traditional approach of 20 minutes of isometric exercises while the other performed 20 minutes of isometrics with electromyographic feedback. Pretreatment and post-treatment electromyographic output and strength were measured. The average difference between pretest and posttest electromyographic output for the feedback group was over 10 times higher than that of the standard therapy group. The feedback group also had significantly greater (p < .01) changes in manual muscle test scores after each treatment. Change in maximum electromyographic output was significantly correlated with total number of days following surgery, regardless of treatment. A multiple regression analysis revealed that the greatest predictors of change in maximum electromyographic output were treatment group and days after surgery. Electromyographic feedback is demonstrated to be an efficacious and specific therapeutic modality for the patient who has had a meniscectomy.