Benefits of starting rehabilitation within 24 hours of primary total knee arthroplasty: randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the benefits of initiating rehabilitation treatment within 24 hours versus 48-72 hours after total knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis.

DESIGN: Experimental study with clinical trial design.

SUBJECTS: Patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to experimental (n = 153) and control (n = 153) groups.

INTERVENTIONS: Rehabilitation was started within 24 hours post surgery in the experimental group and between 48 hours and 72 hours post surgery in the controls.

MAIN MEASURES: Measurement variables included joint range of motion, muscle strength, pain, autonomy, gait and balance.

RESULTS: In comparison with the controls, the experimental group showed significantly shorter hospital stay (by (mean ± standard deviation) 2.09  ±  1.45 days; P < 0.001), fewer rehabilitation sessions until medical discharge (by 4.95  ±  2.34; P < 0.001), lesser pain (by 2.36  ±  2.47 points; P < 0.027), greater joint range of motion in flexion (by 16.29 ± 11.39 degrees; P < 0.012) and extension (by 2.12 ± 3.19; P < 0.035), improved strength in quadriceps (by 0.98 ± 0.54; P < 0.042) and hamstring muscles (by 1.05 ± 0.72; P < 0.041), and higher scores for gait (P < 0.047) and balance (P < 0.045).

CONCLUSION: Initiation of rehabilitation within 24 hours after total knee arthroplasty reduces the mean hospital stay and number of sessions required to achieve autonomy and normal gait and balance.