Isokinetic Training Program to Improve the Physical Function and Muscular Performance of an Individual with Partial Injury of the Medial Meniscus: A Case Report.
Karen Obara, Pedro Silva, Mariana Silva and 4 others
PMID 37636894WHAT IT FOUND
One man with a medial meniscus tear improved knee extensor and flexor strength after 11 weeks of isokinetic and proprioceptive training.
His functional scores remained high throughout, and the single case cannot prove the treatment works for others.
Key findings
01Knee extensor and flexor peak torque normalized to body mass increased after 11 weeks of isokinetic and neuromuscular/proprioceptive training.
02The patient's Lower Extremity Functional Scale score was 74 before treatment, 72 after, and 76 at six-month follow-up, with no limitations on daily activities.
03The hamstring to quadriceps ratio improved by 13.3% at 60 degrees per second and 6.6% at 300 degrees per second after treatment.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
Single case report with no comparison group receiving standard care, so the effect of the intervention cannot be isolated from natural healing or other factors. The control participant was only tested once, introducing a potential learning effect bias for the patient who was tested multiple times. The patient had high baseline function (LEFS 74/80), so the study cannot show if this training helps patients with significant functional limitations. No eccentric muscle capacity or proprioceptive measures were assessed. The intervention combined isokinetic training with proprioceptive exercises, so the contribution of either component alone is unknown.
Declared interests
The authors reported no conflicts of interest. Funding for the isokinetic dynamometer came from FINEP, and doctoral support came from CAPES and CNPq.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the increase in muscle torque as proof that this specific 11-week isokinetic protocol is necessary or superior to standard exercise. The patient had minimal functional change, and the study design cannot separate the effects of the specialized equipment from the concurrent proprioceptive training or natural recovery.