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Physical therapy session protocol linked with fewer physical therapy visits after TJA
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Recently published results showed use of a preoperative physical therapy session protocol with a supplemental microsite effectively reduced the number of postoperative physical therapy visits and time for readiness to discharge from physical therapy among patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty.
Rupali Soeters, PT, Med, PhD, and colleagues randomly assigned 126 patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty to either participate in a one-time, one-on-one preoperative physical therapy session protocol (preopPTEd) with a supplemental microsite or no further education after a group education class attended by all patients. Researchers assessed readiness to discharge from physical therapy, as well as hospital length of stay and 6-week WOMAC scores.
Results showed fewer postoperative inpatient physical therapy visits and faster readiness to discharge from physical therapy among patients in the preopPTEd group vs. the control group. However, researchers found no differences in hospital length of stay or 6-week WOMAC scores between the two groups.
“Before opting for a treatment, every patient needs to know about the recovery process. Goal-setting and aligning patients’ expectations are critical for a successful outcome,” Soeters told Healio.com/Orthopedics. “For patients undergoing joint replacement, physical therapy plays a huge role in the recovery phase after hospital discharge. The emphasis of this customized approach was attention to topics such as preoperative preparation, function during the acute inpatient hospital stay, discharge instructions, negotiating activities of daily living after surgery, goal-setting and aligning patients’ expectations regarding their upcoming surgery and postsurgical recovery, making it a true patient-centric approach.” – by Casey Tingle
Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.
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