Effect of early gait training on the functional rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Knee arthroplasty can correct the joint deformity, alleviate the pain and improve the joint function,thereby improving the patients' quality of life. Early rehabilitative training is the key to the functional recovery of the joint.OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effectiveness of early gait training on the rehabilitation of patients after knee arthroplasty.METHODS: Eighty-six cases undergoing unilateral knee arthroplasty in the Department of Sports Medicine were selected and randomly divided into experimental and control groups (n=43 per group). The experimental group wasgiven rehabilitation instruction before operation, and the gait training was carried out just after the operation. The patients in the control group only received the basic rehabilitation training. The Visual Analogue Scale and the Hospital for Special Surgery scores were evaluated at baseline and 2, 4, and 8 weeks, and 6 months postoperatively, and the clinical effectiveness was compared between two groups.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The range of motion of the knee in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group at 4 and 8 weeks, and 6 months postoperatively (P 0.05);the scores at 6 months postoperatively in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). (4) These findings suggest that compared with conventional training, early gaiting training can significantly improve the range of motion and pain of the knee, as well as enhance the functional recovery of the knee joint, which exhibits remarkable curative efficacy in the rehabilitation following knee arthroplasty.