Study finds preoperative exercise program improves TKA outcomes

Patients with knee osteoarthritis who were randomized to an 8-week exercise program prior to total knee arthroplasty had significantly higher quality of life scores at 3 months compared to those not enrolled in the program, according to researchers of a pilot study.

“The findings of this study are consistent with other clinical trials conducted by this team that have indicated that patients who engage in a Thera-Band prehab program prior to [total knee arthroplasty] TKA surgery realize an accelerated recovery following TKA surgery,” Robert Topp, RN, PhD, associate dean for research at Marquette University in Milwaukee, stated in a press release from the Hygenic Corporation, which owns Thera-Band. The study was published in Perceptual & Motor Skills.

The study included 18 patients. Patients in the preoperative exercise intervention group reported to a physical therapy lab twice a week and performed their exercises at home once a week, according to the study. During the program, patients performed squats, leg extensions, leg curls, and hip abduction, adduction, flexion and extension exercises with increased resistance. Forward and lateral step-ups and foot plantar flexion and dorsiflexion exercises were also included in the exercise regimen.

At 3-month follow-up, patients in the exercise group reported higher scores in the eight areas of the SF-36 for quality of life compared to patients who did not participate in the exercise program. Patients in the exercise program also had better scores in the physical function category of the measurement than the comparison group, according to the press release.

Reference:

Brown K. Percept Motor Skill. 2012;doi:10.2466/15.06.10.PMS.115.6.765-774.

Disclosure:This study was funded by Thera-Band Academy.