Benefit of preoperative exercise for post-TKR functional outcomes unclear

Benefit of preoperative exercise for post-TKR functional outcomes unclear

According to study results, a median of 10 exercise sessions before total knee replacement demonstrated a small yet non-significant improvement in functional assessments compared with patient education only; however, benefits were not sustained after surgery, demonstrating inconclusive results regarding whether preoperative exercise was beneficial for postoperative functional outcomes.

Researchers randomly assigned 45 patients awaiting total knee replacement (TKR) to receive either eight sessions of a neuromuscular exercise program plus three sessions of a knee school (KS) educational program (exercise group) or three sessions of KS (control group) alone. The researchers assessed patients’ functional outcomes using the chair stand test – the study’s primary outcome – and KOOS subscales of daily living function (ADL) and pain – the study’s secondary outcomes – immediately before and after intervention and again at 6 weeks, 3 months and 12 months postoperatively.

Source: Healio

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