Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-2022
Publisher
American Physical Therapy Association
Source Publication
Physical Therapy
Source ISSN
0031-9023
Original Item ID
DOI: 10.1093/ptj/pzac033
Abstract
Range of motion (ROM) and pain often define successful recovery after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), but these routine clinical outcomes correlate poorly or not at all to functional capacity after TKA. The purpose of this Perspective is to underscore the importance of muscle strength and performance-based functional tests in addition to knee ROM and patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures to evaluate outcomes after TKA. Specifically: (1) muscle strength is the rate-limiting step for recovery of function after TKA; (2) progressive rehabilitation targeting early quadriceps muscle strengthening improves outcomes and does not compromise ROM after TKA; (3) ROM and PROs fail to fully capture functional limitations after TKA; and (4) performance-based functional tests are critical to evaluate function objectively after TKA. This Perspective also addresses studies that question the need for or benefit of physical therapy after TKA because their conclusions focus only on ROM and PRO measures. Future research is needed to determine the optimal timing, delivery, intensity, and content of physical therapy.
Recommended Citation
Capin, Jacob J.; Bade, Michael J.; Jennings, Jason M.; Snyder-Mackler, Lynn; and Stevens-Lapsley, Jennifer E., "Total Knee Arthroplasty Assessments Should Include Strength and Performance-Based Functional Tests to Complement Range-of-Motion and Patient-Reported Outcome Measures" (2022). Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications. 201.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/phys_therapy_fac/201
Comments
Published version. Physical Therapy, Vol. 102, No. 6 (June 2022): pzac033. DOI. © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Physical Therapy Association. Used with permission.