Soft tissue and post op Flashcards
physiology of CT repair
affected by age, lifestyle, and systemic factors
microstructure of CTs
- fibers (collagen, elastin)
- ground substance (glycosaminoglycans)
- cellular substances (fibroblasts, fibrocytes)
function of CTs depends on portions of intracellular and extracellular components
response to loading
- Tensile loads-primarily resisted by collagen fibers
- if tissue is elongated beyond 4%, plastic changes begin to occur (x-links begin to fail)
- yield point is where increase in strain occurs w/o increase in stress
- cyclic loading produces microstructural damage that accumulates with each cycling loading cycle
- failure from cyclic loading=fatigue failure
viscoelastic properties
creep and relaxation allow CTs to adapt and function in a variety of loading conditions without being damaged
creep
tissue lengthens in response to a constant load
relaxation
amount of force necessary to maintain new length decreases
phases of healing
- needed to formulate a plan of care
- allows for matching the loading capability to intervention
- understanding provides the tools to treat a variety of injury and surgical conditions
characteristics phase 1 healing- inflammatory response
3-5 days
- palpable pain, tenderness, swelling
- release of chemical substances (protaglandins, bradykinin)
treatment of phase 1 healing
- decrease pain and inflammation
- maintain mobility and strength of adjacent joints and soft tissues if possible
characteristics of phase 2 healing- repair and regeneration
- up to 8 weeks
- new collagen forming (primarily type 3)
- edema is resolved during this phase
- bone-callus phase
treatment of phase 2 healing
- focus on normal tissue relationships, optimal loading
- changes become habitual in this stage!
- ROM exercises and joint mobilization, WBing
- end of this stage-mobility and strength base should be established
- bone-limited activity allowed
characteristics of phase 3 healing- remodeling and maturation
- deposition of type 1 collagen (end of phase 2)
- decreased synthetic activity and extracellularity
treatment of phase 3 healing
- tension/resistance becomes more important in orientation of collagen
- normal loading is necessary for bone remodeling - Wolff’s law
restoration of normal tissue relationships
after CT injury, relationship and integrity of tissues are altered
possible interventions:
- active muscle contractions
- passive joint motion
- mobilization
- stretching
- begin preventative interventions as early as healing process allows!
optimal loading
**chose tx procedures that don’t disrupt the healing process
requires:
- choosing a load that doesn’t under or overload the tissue
- considering biomechanical effects of daily activities
- understanding of mechanism of injured tissue loading
- individual factors- age, tissue quality, nutrition, fitness
signs of overload
1: increased pain that doesn’t resolve within the next 12 hours
2: pain that is increased over the previous session or comes on earlier in the exercise session
3: increased swelling, warmth or redness in the injury area
4: decreased ability to use the part
specific adaptations to imposed demands (SAID)
- includes QUANTITY and TYPE of activity
- extension of Wolff’s low
- guides exercise rx parameters
- stage of healing and optimal loading parameters closely reflect the specific demands on the pt’s functional tasks
prevention of complications
GOAL: minimize effects of immobilization while an injury is healing
- e-stim or isometric contractions
- AROM at joints above and below injury sites
- WB exercises when feasible to load articular cartilage and prevent degradation
Sprain
acute injury to a ligament or joint capsule without dislocation
-may resolve with short term immobilization, controlled activity and rehab exercises
sprain classification
grade I: mild, ligament is stretched, no discontinuity
grade II: moderate, some fibers stretched/torn, some joint laxity
grade III: severe, complete ligament disruption with resultant laxity
sprain examination and evaluation
-observation to assess ecchymosis and edema
-observe functional ROM, AROM and PROM
-assess joint integrity and mobility
laxity-manual/instrument
instability- apprehension/instability
-palpation to identify primary and secondary injuries- surrounding joints and soft tissues
strain
musculotendinous injury
=acute injury to the muscle or tendon from an abrupt or excessive muscle contraction
-usually a result of a quick overload to the muscle-tendon unit whereby the tension generated > tissue’s capacity