To retrospectively study the effect of the "angular fluctuation rehabilitation training" method in the rehabilitation of patients with old limitation of elbow joint motion due to medial collateral ligament injury.

We retrospectively collected 104 patients with unstable valgus test admitted from January 2014 to July 2021, with an average age of (50±5) years. There were 46 males and 58 females, all with unilateral limb onset, and all with preoperative Mayo elbow scores less than 60. The patients were divided into the experimental group (n=53) and the control group (n=51) according to the postoperative rehabilitation method, and the rehabilitation was carried out by two methods: "angular fluctuation rehabilitation training" and "traditional rehabilitation training", respectively. The Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS), Modified Hospital for Special Surgery Score (Modified HSS), Visual Analogue Score (VAS) for pain, and four angles of movement: flexion, extension, internal rotation, and external rotation were used to evaluate the efficacy before and at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery.

The follow-up period ranged from 10 to 36 months, with a mean follow-up of (21.3±7.2) months and a 6-month follow-up rate of 100%. At the 6-month postoperative follow-up, the functional activity scores of patients in the trial group were significantly higher than those in the control group, with 80(80,85) points in the MEPS trial group and 70(70,75) points in the control group; 85(82,88) points in the modified HSS trial group and 79(75,82) points in the control group; 2(1,3) points in the VAS trial group and 3(3,4) points in the control group, and the data of all three groups were The range of motion of the elbow joint in the test group was 120°(115,130)° in flexion and 15°(10,15)° in extension, which was significantly greater than that in the traditional rehabilitation mode: 100°(95,110)° in flexion and 20°(15,20)° in extension, and there was no side injuries due to rehabilitation.

The angle fluctuation rehabilitation training combines the advantages of adjustable brace and static progressive stretch(SPS) brace of the elbow joint. By combining static and dynamic training and non-violently increasing the training angle progressively, satisfactory active and passive mobility can be achieved. The pain level during rehabilitation was within the tolerance range, the rehabilitation period was shortened, and the rate of excellent functional scores in the medium and long term follow-up was significantly increased.