Effects of postoperative active and passive exercises on functional recovery after TKA

Abstract

Objective To observe the differences in functional recovery between active physiother-apy (AP) and continuous passive motion (CPM) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods Eighty cases of TKA patients were randomly divided into 2 even groups of CPM and AP. In the CPM group, CPM devices were applied in the early days postoperatively; in the AP group, active exercise was encouraged under guidance of rehabilitation physicians. The visual pain scores (VAS) at the 3, 6, 9 days after operation, ranges of motion (ROM) at different time points, and duration of hospitalization were documented for each patient. Results At the third day after operation, CPM group got less VAS than AP group (P 0.05). The follow-ups of 56 patients at 3 and 6 months after operation revealed that the average ROM of AP group was significantly greater than that of CPM group (P < 0.05). Conclusions AP rather than CPM should be recommended in the rehabilitation for patients after TKA. But CPM can be considered for patients with hyperalgesia or those who are unable to take active exercise to accelerate functional recovery. Key words: Motion therapy, continuous passive; Arthroplasty, replacement, knee; Rehabilitation