REHABILITACIÓN EN LA INHIBICIÓN MUSCULAR ARTROGÉNICA: REVISIÓN SISTEMÁTICA

Arthrogenic Muscle Inhibition (AMI), is a continuous inhibitory reflex of the muscles surrounding an injured joint, this condition prevents or delays the rehabilitation process. Therapeutic interventions focused on the treatment of AMI are the Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES), the Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), the therapeutic exercise and cryotherapy. Considering AMI as a limiting factor in the rehabilitation of joint injuries, it is important to study the therapeutic interventions made by physiotherapists that might reduce that condition and improve functional recovery and the quality of life of patients with joint diseases. Objective: To review the physiotherapeutic methods that could be the most appropriate to diminish the impact of AMI in the rehabilitation of patients with joint injuries or pathologies. Method: This review included the analysis of 9 articles, which were evaluated using the PEDro scale. Results: The TENS, the NMES, the therapeutic exercise and the cryotherapy are the therapeutic interventions that have proven to be most effective in terms of activation, muscular strength and resistance to the harmful effects of AMI. According to the results, cryotherapy is the physical agent with the most positive effect on the inhibited muscle. Conclusions: Further clinical controlled studies that evaluate the effect of these four methods in clinical conditions are needed. More studies are also needed to establish the appropriate dose of cryotherapy