Pre- and Postoperative Functional Changes in Total Knee Patients

Objective laboratory measurements were obtained preoperatively and up to 24 months postoperatively for 102 patients (140 knees). This longitudinal study was an effort to determine changes in functional status as a result of surgery and rehabilitation. In the main, the function improved in arthritic patients who received a geometric knee implant and subsequent physical therapy in a manner described in this study. Function improved in terms of joint motion, muscle strength, standing posture, and gait in both rheumatoid and osteoarthritic groups. Some functional abnormalities which seemed to persist were deficits in knee extension motion and knee extensor strength, and that the subjects stand with the knee in a flexed position. Time asymmetries of foot placement were present during gait, patient's stance phase time and body accelerations were excessive, and body accelerations were arrhythmic in the forward-backward directions.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1984;6(1):25-29.