Abstract
[Purpose] We investigated whether or not knee mobility improvement differed according to the start day of range of motion (ROM) exercises after total knee arthroplasty. [Subjects and Method] We divided subjects operated on by the same surgeon with the same technique and given the same artificial knee at random into day-1 (15 persons) and day-2 (17 persons) post-op. rehabilitation start groups, and executed identical 3-week physical therapy programs of ROM exercises for both groups. [Results] There were no significant differences between the two groups in improvements of knee passive flexion angle (KFA), number of days to achieve knee passive flexion angle of 120°, number of persons achieving knee passive flexion angles of 120°, 130° and 140°, leg circumference at the top of the knee (LC), and pain during ROM exercises; but KFA and LC of both groups, and pain during ROM exercises of the day-2 group did significantly improve. Also, all of the measured items showed a trend of improvement that was slower in the day-1 group compared to the day-2 group. [Conclusion] There was no significant difference in the improvement of knee joint mobility according to the start day of ROM exercises, but since there was a delay in the increase in knee passive flexion angle in the day-1 group, we could not find any advantage in starting physical therapy on day-1 post-op. A good result was obtained under the present system of starting ROM exercises on day-2 post-op., and the results of the present study caution against the trend toward early introduction of physical therapy after total knee arthroplasty without thorough investigation.
