Effects of Preoperative Telerehabilitation on Muscle Strength, Range of Motion, and Functional Outcomes in Candidates for Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 18; no. 11; p. 6071
• Main Authors: An, Jungae, Ryu, Ho-Kwang, Lyu, Suk-Joo, Yi, Hyuk-Jong, Lee, Byoung-Hee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 04-06-2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Arthritis; Arthroplasty (knee); Biomedical materials; Bone surgery; Clinical trials; Consent; Exercise; Hospitals; Intervention; Joint replacement surgery; Joint surgery; Knee; Manipulative therapy; Mobility; Muscle strength; Orthopaedic implants; Orthopedics; Osteoarthritis; Pain; Participation; Patients; Physical therapy; Postoperative period; Prostheses; Quadriceps muscle; Quality of life; Range of motion; Recovery of function; Rehabilitation; Telemedicine; Testing time; Torque; Walking; United States > US; South Korea; Germany
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18116071

This study aims to investigate the effect of a preoperative telerehabilitation (PT) program on muscle strength, knee range of motion (ROM), and functional outcomes in candidates for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Sixty patients (all women, mean age 70.53 ± 2.7 years) scheduled for bilateral TKA participated in this study. The PT and preoperative patient education (PE) groups participated in a 3-week intensive exercise program (30 min/session, 2 times/day, 5 days/week), whereas the control group received the usual care before TKA. Quadriceps muscle strength, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), ROM of knee flexion, pain, and time up-and-go (TUG) test time were evaluated at 4 weeks preoperatively, post-interventionally, and 6 weeks after TKA. Significant differences were found in the time-by-group interaction for 60°/s extension peak torque [F(4, 100) = 2.499, p = 0.047, η2p = 0.91], 180°/s extension peak torque [F(4, 100) = 3.583, p = 0.009, η2p = 0.125], ROM [F(4, 100) = 4.689, p = 0.002, η2p = 0.158], TUG time [F(4, 100) = 7.252, p < 0.001, η2p = 0.225], WOMAC pain [F(4, 100) = 9.113, p < 0.001, η2p = 0.267], WOMAC functional outcome [F(4, 100) = 6.579, p < 0.001, η2p = 0.208], and WOMAC total score [F(4, 100) = 10.410, p < 0.001, η2p = 0.294]. The results of this study demonstrate the early benefits of a PT program in elderly female patients with end-stage osteoarthritis. The PT program improved muscle strength, ROM, and functional outcomes before TKA, which contributed to better functional recovery after TKA.