Article

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of a combination of therapeutic exercise and
ultrasound with or without additional microcurrent therapy in infants with
congenital muscular torticollis involving the entire sternocleidomastoid muscle.
DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
SETTING: An outpatient
rehabilitation clinic in a tertiary university hospital.
SUBJECTS: Infants (n =
20) with congenital muscular torticollis involving the entire sternocleidomastoid
muscle. INTERVENTIONS: Group 1 comprised 10 infants who received therapeutic
exercise with ultrasound alone and Group 2 comprised 10 infants who received the
same treatment with microcurrent therapy. MAIN MEASURES: Passive cervical
rotational range of motion was measured at before treatment and one, two, three,
and six months after initial treatment. Thickness, cross-sectional area, and red
pixel intensity on colour histograms, which were all assessed before treatment
and at three months after initial treatment. Additionally, the duration of
treatment was measured. RESULTS: The mean passive cervical rotational range of
motion measured at three months posttreatment was significantly greater in Group
2 (101.1 degrees ) than that in Group 1 (86.4 degrees ), and the thickness,
cross-sectional area, and red pixel intensity of the affected sternocleidomastoid
muscle were all less in Group 2 (7.8 mm, 100.3 mm(2), and 126.1, respectively)
than those in Group 1 (9.6 mm, 121.5 mm(2), and 140.5, respectively). The mean
duration of treatment was significantly shorter in Group 2 (2.6 months) than in
Group 1 (6.3 months). CONCLUSIONS: Microcurrent therapy may increase the efficacy
of therapeutic exercise with ultrasound for the treatment of congenital muscular
torticollis involving the entire sternocleidomastoid muscle.
CI - (c) The Author(s) 2013.

Langue : ANGLAIS