Physiotherapy management of knee injuries and knee operations requires a good way of applying cryotherapy to counter the swelling and pain involved. The Aircast Cryocuff gives physiotherapists this option as traditional ways of applying cold are clumsy and not very effective.
Physiotherapists commonly assess and treat knee injuries and post-operative knee conditions, managing them promptly for speedy recovery and return to normal function. Recreational activities and sport involve many knee injuries such as ligamentous injuries to the medial, lateral and anterior cruciate ligaments, meniscal injuries to the knee cartilages, dislocation of the kneecap and injury to the knee capsule and knee joint replacement.
The knee is a large, synovial hinge joint which is vulnerable to mechanical injury and when injured it reacts with an inflammatory process. This increases the blood supply and metabolic rate of the knee and the synovial lining starts to secrete synovial fluid, a process which forms a knee effusion. This is “water on the knee”, a swollen knee with synovial fluid making the knee painful and tight, which can interfere with normal functioning of the knee muscles and cause slow recovery of joint function.
Physiotherapy methods of cooling tissues usually have some disadvantages:
Providing cold and compression at the same time is very difficult/impossible Applying ice to the knee does not provide effective cooling in many cases An ice burn can occur with ice by cooling the skin too profoundly Long periods of cooling are difficult to maintain Individuals find it hard to keep the cooling going for long periods Patients cannot be mobile with traditional ice techniques.
Research indicates that compression rather than cooling might be the really important aspect in the management of the acute knee, so this needs to be the priority
The Aircast Cryocuff
The Aircast Cryocuff is a cooling and compression device which is easy to use and conveniently portable, used in managing acute knee injuries and post-operative knees or other joints. The Cryocuff is made up of three parts:
The Bucket. This is a cylindrical plastic reservoir with a detachable lid. It is light and stable and inside there are levels cast in the plastic telling the physio how much ice to put in and where to fill up to with cold water. Once the bucket is prepared the lid is screwed on to give a watertight seal. The Hose. The insulated hose has a clipping system which allows it to be attached to the cuff easily and cleanly. The Cuff. This is the business end of the device. It is a wraparound cuff designed to fit the contours of the knee and comes in three sizes.
Physiotherapy Application of the Cryocuff
The size of the cuff needed for the patient is measured by the physio 6 inches above the kneecap and then the cuff is fitted snugly to the knee and firmly attached with the Velcro straps. It is important to start with the cuff deflated or the benefits of compression of the Cryocuff will not be forthcoming.
The bucket should contain the correct mixture of cold water and cubed ice with the top screwed on well to avoid leaks. The physio attaches the hose to the clip on the cuff and lifts the bucket above knee level to allow the cold water to fill the cuff by gravity. The height of the bucket and how long it is held up will determine how tight the cuff is inflated with water.
The patient is able to disconnect the hose from the cuff and remain mobile while the cuff stays cold for an hour or so, providing the cryotherapy and compression required. They can also do their exercises with the cuff in place. Patients can then reconnect the hose, allow the water to flow back into the bucket then remix it by tilting the bucket before repeating the process of refilling the cuff with cold water. The procedure can then be kept up for six to eight hours before fresh ice needs to be provided for the bucket.
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