Influencia del Cross Education en pacientes con inmovilización posquirúrgica por lesión del ligamento cruzado anterior.

Abstract

Introduction: Cross Education is a neurophysiologically supported therapeutic alternative, whose principle lies in the improvement of neuromuscular parameters in the immobilized limb through unilateral training of the contralateral limb. Objective: To determine the influence of Cross Education on the functional condition of patients with post-surgical immobilization due to ACL injury. Methodology: The design is pre-experimental, longitudinal, quantitative and the approach is applicative. The population consisted of 60 adult patients, of which a sample of 30 was selected. The instruments used were: goniometry, Daniels test, quadriceps and gastrocnemius perimeter, VAS scale, and knowledge survey. Results: The population was composed of 47% men and 53.3% women. 56.7% achieved a muscle score of 3 on the Daniels test. 50% reported mild to moderate pain on the VAS scale. In goniometry, the initial flexion reached an average of 74.47° and in extension it was -5.47°, at the end they reached 79.37° for flexion and -3.54° for extension. Regarding the muscle perimeter, the quadriceps of the operated leg achieved a change of 0.5 cm from the initial value, while the gastrocnemius achieved an increase of 0.3 cm. In the survey, more than 50% of the participants agreed on the benefits of the technique. Conclusion: The Cross Education program has been shown to improve muscle strength, joint range of motion, muscle mass, and reduce pain.