Introduction: The infl ammatory manifestations of knee osteoarthritis (OA) lead to muscle inhibition and hypotrophy, resulting in a reduction in total muscle work and muscle power. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is the most adequate surgery for the treatment of advanced OA. However, its effects on muscle functional behavior have not been well understood. Objective: To compare the total work and power of the knee fl exor and extensor muscles in patients with OA (20) and in patients post-TKA (12) at two angular velocities (60°/sec and 240°/sec). Methods: An isokinetic Biodex dynamometer was used to assess muscle power and total work during isokinetic contractions. Two-way ANOVA for repeated measures was used to compare total muscle work and muscle power between the groups (SPSS software, version 13.0; signifi cance level, P < 0.05). Results: There was no difference between the OA and TKA groups for the total work of both knee extensors and fl exors at the two angular velocities (P ≥ 0.05). In addition, no difference was observed in the muscle power of the knee extensors and fl exors (P ≥ 0.05). Conclusion: Total work and power were similar in the OA and TKA groups, suggesting that TKA did not improve functional capacity, which was similar in both groups.