2025 年 14 巻 5 号 p. 109-120
Falls after total knee arthroplasty are common in knee osteoarthritis patients due to advanced age and implant-induced sensory function changes. We reported the influence of toe grip strength on falls in knee osteoarthritis patients. This study aimed to determine whether toe grip strength training after total knee arthroplasty is related to screening assessment and incidence of falls. Elderly patients undergoing unilateral total knee arthroplasty were divided into toe grip strength training group and control group. Six types of training were conducted on bilateral toes. The primary outcomes were changes in toe grip strength and timed up and go test (TUG) time from pre-intervention to 12 weeks post-intervention. Secondary outcomes involved several factors, including the occurrence of falls. The analysis included 37 participants in both groups. The toe grip strength training group had a shorter timed up and go test (TUG) and stronger bilateral toe grip strength than control group. The changes in timed up and go test time were significantly correlated with the changes of toe grip strength on the affected side. There were significantly fewer falls in the toe grip strength training group than in control group between 3 and 12 months after total knee arthroplasty. Toe grip strength training was useful in improving walking ability and preventing falls in postoperative total knee arthroplasty patients. The advantage of toe grip strength training is that it is non-invasive (a muscle function not requiring an operation), so the intervention can be conducted safely without specialist supervision unless the toes are impaired.
