Assessment of effects of ultrasound therapy on reduction of pain in gonarthrosis.
AIM To examine the effects of sonotherapy on the activities of daily living or as well as the reduction of pain in gonarthrosis. METHODS A retrospective- prospective clinical study included 63 patients, 47 to 86 years old with a verified diagnosis of gonarthrosis. Subjects were divided into two groups. The first group included 26 patients treated with kinesitherapy in combination with electrotherapy; the second group included 37 patients treated with kinesitherapy combined with sonotherapy. The age, sex, activities of daily living by Barthel Index and the intensity of pain by visual pain scale (VAS) was analyzed at admission and discharge of the patients. RESULTS Both groups were matched for age, sex, and Barthel index values at admission and discharge. There was no statically significant difference between the groups according to demogrfphic characteristics. Visual pain scale at admission was almost identical in both groups; VAS at discharge waa lower in the group treated with kinesiotherapy and sonotherapy. Visual pain scale at discharge was lower in both groups than at admission, but without statisticay difference (p more than 0.05). CONCLUSION Sonotherapy and electrotherapy improved the activities of patien's' lives. Both types of therapy, in combination with kinesitherapy, led to a decrease of pain in patients with gonarthrosis.