Does standard post-operative rehabilitation have its place after total knee replacement?

OBJECTIVE: The pilot study objective was to evaluate the effect of comprehensive post-operative physiotherapeutic treatment on the selected physiotherapeutic parameters as well as patients' quality of life after a total knee joint replacement surgery.

RESULTS: Thirty patients after total knee joint arthroplasty were enrolled into the pilot study. After completing the physiotherapeutic processes, we have observed among the patients who underwent a total knee replacement surgery, a significant increase in muscle strength as with the flexors as well as the extensors (p = 0.001), improvement in their range of motion in knee joint flexion, in comparison to its range before treatment (p = 0.001), knee pain reduction (p = 0.001) and post-operative swelling (p <0.001), respectively. After undergoing the physiotherapeutic procedures, we recorded a statistically significant improvement in the monitored physical components: dressing (p = 0.008) and toilet use (p = 0.001), transfer from bed to chair (p = 0.008), walking on flat surface (p = 0.001), climbing stairs (p = 0.001). Passing the physiotherapy significantly reduced the degree of dependence of operated patients (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION: Early post-operative physiotherapy treatment positively affects patients' general condition. In addition, it improves muscle strength, range of motion of the operated joint, eliminates post-operative pain and reduces swelling that improves patients' self-sufficiency. Standard physiotherapy nowadays and in the next few years will take a unique place in patients' management after total knee joint replacement (Tab. 5, Ref. 26).