<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec><h3>Introduction</h3>
<p>Recently, increased frequency of chronic leg ulcers has been observed. The aim of the study was to compare therapeutic efficacy of combined physical therapy to topical hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the treatment of venous leg ulcers.</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Materials and Methods</h3>
<p>Participants included 36 patients (14 females and 22 males) between 18 and 80 years of age with chronic venous leg ulcers. They were randomly divided into two study groups. Group I underwent topical hyperbaric oxygen therapy; group II underwent combined physical therapy. Before and after the therapeutic cycle (15 procedures) measurement of ulceration size by planimetry and analysis of laboratory parameters of blood was performed.</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Results</h3>
<p>In both groups, a statistically significant reduction of ulcer surface area was obtained (25.11±17.8cm<sup>2</sup> to 16.93±13.89cm<sup>2</sup>, p=0.000196) vs. (34.17±14.82cm<sup>2</sup> to 23.99±15.15cm<sup>2</sup>, p=0.004337). Blood morphology revealed a statistically significant reduction in patients from group II who underwent combined physical therapy (p=0.01). In both groups, statistically significant reduction of fibrinogen level (p=0.01 and p&lt;0.001), and total protein level (p=0.01) was achieved. In group II reduction of the inflammation marker C-reactive protein (CRP) was noted.</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Conclusions</h3>
<p>Topical hyperbaric oxygen therapy and combined physical therapy had statistically significant effects on the reduction of surface area of treated venous leg ulcers. The changes in morphological and biochemical parameters may indicate the anti-inflammatory and anti-clotting action effects of combined physical therapy.</p>
</sec>
</abstract>

Introduction
Recently, increased frequency of chronic leg ulcers has been observed. The aim of the study was to compare therapeutic efficacy of combined physical therapy to topical hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the treatment of venous leg ulcers.

Materials and Methods
Participants included 36 patients (14 females and 22 males) between 18 and 80 years of age with chronic venous leg ulcers. They were randomly divided into two study groups. Group I underwent topical hyperbaric oxygen therapy; group II underwent combined physical therapy. Before and after the therapeutic cycle (15 procedures) measurement of ulceration size by planimetry and analysis of laboratory parameters of blood was performed.

Results
In both groups, a statistically significant reduction of ulcer surface area was obtained (25.11±17.8cm2 to 16.93±13.89cm2, p=0.000196) vs. (34.17±14.82cm2 to 23.99±15.15cm2, p=0.004337). Blood morphology revealed a statistically significant reduction in patients from group II who underwent combined physical therapy (p=0.01). In both groups, statistically significant reduction of fibrinogen level (p=0.01 and p<0.001), and total protein level (p=0.01) was achieved. In group II reduction of the inflammation marker C-reactive protein (CRP) was noted.

Conclusions
Topical hyperbaric oxygen therapy and combined physical therapy had statistically significant effects on the reduction of surface area of treated venous leg ulcers. The changes in morphological and biochemical parameters may indicate the anti-inflammatory and anti-clotting action effects of combined physical therapy.

Is combined physical therapy more effective than topical hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the treatment of venous leg ulcers? Preliminary study

Department of Internal Medicine, Angiology and Physical Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze

Medical University of Silesia in Katowice

Department of Osteopathic Medicine, Department of Physiotherapy

Postępy Higieny i Medycyny Doświadczalnej

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Introduction
Recently, increased frequency of chronic leg ulcers has been observed. The aim of the study was to compare therapeutic efficacy of combined...

Is combined physical therapy more effective than topical hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the treatment of venous leg ulcers? Preliminary study

Article Category: Original Study

Publié en ligne: 04 juin 2022

Pages: 199 - 208

Reçu: 23 août 2021

Accepté: 09 déc. 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ahem-2022-0023

Mots clés
biochemical blood parameters, venous leg ulcers, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, combined physical therapy, treatment

© 2022 Mikołaj Pietrzak et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Is combined physical therapy more effective than topical hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the treatment of venous leg ulcers? Preliminary study

Article Category: Original Study

Publié en ligne: 04 juin 2022

Pages: 199 - 208

Reçu: 23 août 2021

Accepté: 09 déc. 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ahem-2022-0023

Mots clésbiochemical blood parameters, venous leg ulcers, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, combined physical therapy, treatment

© 2022 Mikołaj Pietrzak et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Mots clés
biochemical blood parameters, venous leg ulcers, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, combined physical therapy, treatment