Effect Of Electroacupuncture Combined With Blood Flow Restriction Training On Rehabilitation Of Anterior Knee Pain In Middle And Long Distance Runners

Objective: This study investigates the therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture combined with blood flow restriction training in middle-and long-distance runners suffering from anterior knee pain.Methods: Thirty active athletes suffering from anterior knee pain,whose training specialties were 1500 m,3000m and other middle and long distances,were selected from professional teams such as Jilin Sports School and Changchun Sports School.30 patients were randomly grouped: Electroacupuncture group、Blood flow restriction group and Association group,there were 10 participants in each group.The experiment was conducted for a total of 8 weeks with 3treatments per week.Subjects in the electroacupuncture group underwent electroacupuncture within 20 min of the end of training;subjects in the Blood flow restriction training group underwent blood flow restriction with 180 mm Hg pressurization on the affected side during training;subjects in the Association group underwent blood flow restriction with 180 mm Hg pressurization on the affected side during training and electroacupuncture within 20 min of the end of training.By examining the changes in VAS scale,Lysholm scale,peak torque at 60°/sec and 180°/sec,relative peak torque,mean power and flexion-extension ratio of the subjects before and after 8 weeks of treatment,the differences in treatment effects of different intervention modalities were elaborated according to the changes in the corresponding indexes.Results:(1)Comparison of VAS scores within groups: VAS scores in Electroacupuncture group and Blood flow restriction training group decreased significantly(P<0.05),and VAS scores in Association group decreased significantly(P<0.01);Comparison of VAS between groups: the VAS score of the Association group was significantly lower than that of the other two groups(P<0.01).(2)The Lysholm score in the Association group and Blood flow restriction training group was significantly improved(P<0.01),and that in the Electroacupuncture group was significantly improved(P<0.05).The Lysholm score of the Association group was significantly higher than that of the Electroacupuncture group(P<0.01),significantly higher than that of the Blood flow restriction training group(P<0.05),and the Blood flow restriction training group was significantly higher than that of the Electroacupuncture group(P<0.05).(3)Isokinetic muscle strength at 60°/sec:(1)PT: The post-test of knee extensor was significantly higher than the pre-test in Electroacupuncture group(P<0.05),and the post-test was significantly higher than the pre-test in Association group and Blood flow restriction training group(P<0.01).Between groups: there was no significant difference in60°/sec PT among the three groups(P>0.05).(2)PT/WB: PT/WB in Electroacupuncture group was significantly higher than that in pre-test(P<0.05),and PT/WB in Association group and Blood flow restriction training group was significantly higher than that in pre-test(P<0.01).Among the groups,the expression in Association group and Blood flow restriction training group was significantly higher than that in Electroacupuncture group(P<0.05).(3)AP: AP of knee extensor muscle in Electroacupuncture group was significantly higher than that in pre-test(P<0.05),and that in Association group and Blood flow restriction training group was significantly higher than that in pre-test(P<0.01).Among the groups,the expression in the Association group was significantly higher than that in the Electroacupuncture group and the Blood flow restriction training group(P<0.05).(4)Hcon/Qcon: the Blood flow restriction training group improved significantly(P<0.05),and the Association group improved significantly(P<0.01);Among the groups,the Association group and the Blood flow restriction training group were superior to the Electroacupuncture group(P<0.05).(4)Changes of isokinetic muscle strength at 180°/sec:(1)PT: the post-test results of Association group and Blood flow restriction training group were significantly higher than those of pre-test(P<0.01);There was no significant difference in PT among the three groups(P>0.05).(2)PT/WB: the post-test of Association group and Blood flow restriction training group was significantly higher than that of pre-test(P<0.01);(3)AP: AP of knee extensor muscle in the three groups showed a very significant increase(P<0.01),between the groups: AP of knee extensor muscle in the Association group and Blood flow restriction training group was significantly higher than that in the Electroacupuncture group(P<0.05).(5)After 8 weeks of treatment,the 60°/sec extensor PT and AP in the Association group were significantly better than those in the Electroacupuncture group(P<0.01),and significantly better than those in the Blood flow restriction training group(P<0.05).The Blood flow restriction training group was significantly better than the Electroacupuncture group(P<0.05).Conclusion: Compared to other interventions in this study,electroacupuncture combined with blood flow restriction training was more effective in relieving knee pain in middle-and long-distance runners with anterior knee pain,improving knee function,enhancing knee stability,improving knee extension strength of the affected knee and improving treatment efficiency.