Roughly 1 in 3 individuals with an ACL injury will develop post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) within 10 years. A 2020 study published in Arthritis Research & Therapy identified two key contributors to this:
- Altered Joint Loading: ACL-reconstructed knees often show altered gait biomechanics and tibial rotation, likely due to prolonged quadriceps weakness.
- Inflammation: Post-surgical hemarthrosis may lead to sustained synovial inflammation, compromising tissue healing.
How TECAR Therapy Can Help:
- Phase 1: Immediate Post-Op
- Support lymphatic drainage of the lower leg to reduce inflammation.
- Phase 2: Early Recovery
- Apply RET over the knee joint to minimize synovial inflammation and manage pain.
- Phase 3: Isometric Activation
- Combine RET with Hi-EMS to recruit quadriceps and prevent arthrogenic muscle inhibition.
