Locomotor deficits before and two months after knee arthroplasty.
OBJECTIVE
To quantify the locomotor deficits before and 2 months after a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, and to compare pre- and postoperative performance.


METHODS
Locomotor capacity of patients was evaluated using laboratory gait and stair-ascent evaluations (kinematic and kinetic variables, electromyographic activity of 4 muscles of both lower limbs, and spatiotemporal parameters), the timed Up & Go (TUG), and the 6-minute walk (6MW) test.


RESULTS
Large locomotor deficits (increased hip flexion, decreased excursions of the knee and ankle, smaller extensor and flexor moments of force at the 3 joints, and muscle activation levels lower in all muscles tested) are still present in patients, particularly in the single-limb support subphase before and 2 months after TKA. These deficits explain the slower walk and stair-ascent speeds and a reduced performance at the TUG and 6MW tests.


CONCLUSIONS
These results emphasize the need for more careful followup and intensive rehabilitation programs in the first months following TKA.
Ouellet
Denise
D
Laval University and CIRRIS, Quebec Rehabilitation Institute, Quebec City, Canada.
Moffet
Hélène
H
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000502:physiology; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery*; D016138:Walking