Rehabilitation following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) continues to pose a challenge for both patients and providers. In addition, guidelines vary considerably between institutions, which often leave therapy regimens to the discretion of the provider. The lack of clear guidelines for rehabilitation may contribute to inadequate recovery of strength and range-of-motion, resulting in less optimal functional outcomes. Therefore, the aim of this review was to highlight and discuss a variety of post-TKA rehabilitative modalities currently available and to provide evidence regarding efficacy and practicality. Specifically, we assessed the role of and evidence for exercise therapy, aquatic therapy, balance training, continuous passive motion, cold therapy and compression, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and instrument-assisted soft-tissue therapy. Additionally, we proposed general recommendations for rehabilitation after TKA, and as we specifically described active and obese patients, we have included guidelines for these subsets as well. Our review examines the various rehabilitative modalities to offer suggestions for recovery of strength and range-of-motion after TKA, with a focus on the early incorporation of exercise therapy, balance training, aquatic therapy, cryopneumatic therapy, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Dedication and commitment to rehabilitation may help patients attain and exceed their preoperative activity levels.
Despite technological advances in total knee arthroplasty (TKA), management of postoperative muscle weakness and pain continue to pose challenges for both patients and health care providers. Nonpharmacologic therapies, such as neuromodulation in the form of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and other modalities, such as cryotherapy and prehabilitation, have been highlighted as possible adjuncts to standard-of-care pharmacologic management to treat postoperative pain and muscle weakness. The aim of this review was to discuss existing evidence for neuromodulation in the treatment of pain and muscular weakness following TKA, and to shed light on other noninvasive and potential future modalities. Our review of the literature demonstrated that NMES, prehabilitation, and some specialized exercises are beneficial for postoperative muscle weakness, and TENS, cooling therapies, and compression may help to alleviate post-TKA pain. However, there are no clear guidelines for the use of these modalities. Further studies should be aimed at developing guidelines or delineating indications for neuromodulation and other nonpharmacologic therapies in the management of post-TKA pain and muscle weakness.
Knee stiffness is a relatively common complication following a primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Following this procedure, rehabilitation is essential to maintain, improve, and prevent the loss of knee range-of-motion (ROM). Currently, there is a paucity of studies describing whether the timing of physical therapy (PT) post-TKA plays a role in ROM outcomes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare (1) flexion and (2) extension ROM at final follow-up of TKA patients who either began outpatient physical therapy (OPT) within 6 weeks or after 6 weeks of their TKA. Surgical records from all TKAs performed at one institution (three surgeons) between January 2013 and December 2014 (n = 485) were analyzed. Their mean age was 63 years (range, 32–90 years). Patients were stratified into two cohorts: patients who had OPT within 6 weeks (n = 411) and those who started after 6 weeks (n = 74). The t-tests were used to compare mean flexion and extension ROM at final follow-up. The patients who attended OPT within 6 weeks had a significantly higher mean flexion ROM at their final clinical visit ([mean, 114 degrees; range, 60–140 degrees] versus [mean, 111degrees; range, 80–130 degrees]). There was a lower mean extension in the patients who attended PT earlier as compared with those who attended it later (0.7 vs. 1.5 degrees). Patients who attended OPT within 6 weeks of TKA had a better mean flexion and extension ROM as compared with those who started after 6 weeks. Attending PT earlier may allow a patient to have better ROM and decreased stiffness. Because stiffness recalcitrant to PT is usually treated with manipulation under anesthesia (MUA), attending PT earlier and improving ROM may potentially allow post-TKA patients to avoid undergoing manipulation under anesthesia. Further work is needed to validate these findings. Future studies should be prospective with larger cohorts.
There was no significant difference in readmission rates; however, patients with Q-lag experienced a clinically significant higher pain level. Since this is the first study of its kind, we suggest further investigations on the effect of Q-lag on patient outcomes following primary TKA.
Manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) is performed for knee stiffness following a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) when nonoperative treatments fail. It is important to develop an optimal outpatient physical therapy protocol following an MUA, to avoid a repeat procedure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare: (1) range of motion and (2) the rate of repeat MUA in patients who either underwent innovative multimodal physical therapy (IMMPT) or standard-of-care physical therapy (standard) following an MUA after a TKA. We performed a retrospective database study of patients who underwent an MUA following a TKA between January 2013 to December 2014 ( = 57). There were 16 (28%) men and 41 (72%) women who had a mean age of 59 years (range, 32-81 years). The patients were stratified into those who underwent IMMPT ( = 22) and those who underwent standard physical therapy ( = 35). The 6-month range of motion and rate of repeat manipulation between the two cohorts was analyzed by using Student t-test and Chi-square tests. In addition, we performed a Kaplan-Meier analysis of time to repeat MUA. The IMMPT cohort had a statistically significant higher proportion of TKAs with an optimal range of motion as compared with the standard cohort. There was statistically significant lower proportion of patients who underwent a repeat MUA in the IMMPT as compared with the standard cohort. There was also a significantly lower incidence and longer time to MUA in the IMMPT cohort as compared with the standard cohort in the Kaplan-Meier analysis. The group who underwent IMMPT utilizing Astym therapy had a significantly higher proportion of patients with optimal range of motion, which implies the potential efficacy of this regimen to improve range of motion. Furthermore, the IMMPT cohort had a significantly lower proportion of repeat manipulations as compared with the standard cohort, which implies that an IMMPT approach could potentially reduce the need for a repeat MUA. These findings warrant further investigation into outcomes of different rehab approaches.
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