OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) combined with proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on postural stability, muscle strength and pain in patients with tibial plateau fracture. METHOD: A 3-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted in 60 patients with tibial plateau fracture. Participants received one of the following interventions: standard treatment (ST group, n = 20), ST plus PNF training (ST plus PNF group, n = 20), ST plus PNF training plus TEAS intervention (ST plus PNF plus TEAS group, n = 20). All treatments lasted for six weeks. Participants ' postural stability, muscle strength and pain were evaluated at baseline, after 3 and 6 weeks of intervention. RESULTS: After 3 weeks of intervention, Between-group comparisons showed that both the ST plus PNF group and ST plus PNF plus TEAS group showed significantly greater performance than the ST group in the postural stability measure (p < 0.02) and pain score (p < 0.05). The peak torque of quadriceps extensors and flexors at the velocity of 60degree/s was significantly higher in the ST plus PNF plus TEAS group than in the ST group (p < 0.02). After 6 weeks of intervention, only the ST plus PNF plus TEAS group was superior to the ST group in postural stability measure (p < 0.04) and in pain score (p < 0.05). The ST plus PNF plus TEAS group was significantly higher than the ST plus PNF group and the ST group in the peak torque of quadriceps extensors at the velocity of 60degree/s and 180degree/s (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: PNF training could improve dynamic postural stability and relieve pain at three weeks, while TEAS combined with PNF was more effective in relieving pain, strengthening muscle strength and improving dynamic postural stability at six weeks post-intervention.

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