Effects of microcurrent and cryotherapy on C-reactive protein levels and muscle tone of patients with rotator cuff reconstruction

Jeong-il Kang, Dae-Keun Jeong, Hyun Choi

[Purpose] The purpose of the present study was to apply early intervention via microcurrent and cryotherapy in patients who underwent rotator cuff reconstruction surgery, and to investigate the effects of such interventions on pain and inflammation levels based on the analysis of C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and on changes in muscle tone. [Subjects and Methods] The study population consisted of 30 patients who had undergone rotator cuff reconstruction surgery, with 10 patients each assigned to the control, experimental I (E-1), and experimental II (E-II) groups. On the day after surgery, muscle tone, blood CRP level, and pain were measured. For the following two weeks, continues passive motion (CPM), icing, cryotherapy, and microcurrent were applied to the each group. After the respective interventions, CRP levels, pain, and muscle tone near the shoulder area were measured again. [Results] In the post-hoc test of between-group comparison, a statistically significant difference in CRP level was found in the cryotherapy group. A difference in shoulder muscle tone appeared only in the supraspinatus muscle, with post-hoc test results showing that the biggest change occurred in the cryotherapy group. [Conclusion] Cryotherapy may be able to help stabilize inflammation as well as reduce pain and muscle tension when applied in patients following rotator cuff reconstruction.