Article

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether balance training after total knee replacement
surgery improves functional outcomes and to determine whether postoperative
balance is associated with mobility. DESIGN: A prospective intervention study and
randomized controlled trial with an intention-to-treat analysis. SETTING: The
rehabilitation center of a university-based teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: A
total of 130 patients with knee osteoarthritis who had undergone total knee
replacement surgery were recruited to attend an outpatient rehabilitation
program. They were randomly allocated to additional balance rehabilitation and
functional rehabilitation groups. INTERVENTIONS: During the eight-week outpatient
rehabilitation program, both groups received general functional training.
Patients in the balance rehabilitation group received an additional balance-based
rehabilitation program. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES:
The functional reach test,
single-leg stance test, 10-m walk test, Timed Up and Go Test, timed chair-stand
test, stair-climb test, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities
Osteoarthritis Index were measured at baseline, eight weeks (T(1)), and 32 weeks
(T(2)). RESULTS: The balance rehabilitation group patients demonstrated
significant improvement in the results of the functional reach test at T(1) (37.6
+/-7.8 cm) and T(2) (39.3 +/-9.7 cm) compared with the baseline assessment (11.5
+/-2.9 cm) and Timed Up and Go Test at T(1) (8.9 +/-1.2 seconds) and T(2) (8.0
+/-1.9 seconds) compared with the baseline assessment (12.5 +/-1.8 seconds).
Moreover, the balance rehabilitation group patients exhibited significantly
greater improvements in balance and mobility than did the functional
rehabilitation group patients (all P < 0.001). Furthermore, improved balance was
significantly associated with improved mobility at T(2). CONCLUSION:
Postoperative outpatient rehabilitation with balance training improves the
balance, mobility, and functional outcomes in patients with knee osteoarthritis
after total knee replacement.
CI - (c) The Author(s) 2014.

Langue : ANGLAIS