title: Self-reported chair-rise ability relates to stair-climbing readiness of total knee arthroplasty patients: a pilot study.
abstract: Following total knee arthroplasty (TKA), physical therapists must evaluate patient readiness to safely begin stair-climbing. Physical therapists might find self-reported chair-rise ability useful in determining stair-climbing readiness of patients. We grouped 31 subjects who were at approximately 3.6 weeks post-TKA by chair-rise ability (group 1 = "Because of my knee, I can only rise from a chair if I use my hands and arms to assist," group 2 = "I have pain when rising from the seated position, but it does not affect my ability to rise from the seated position," and group 3 = "My knee does not affect my ability to rise from a chair"). Next, we determined time of stair-climbing ascent and descent, number of chair rises in 30 seconds, isokinetic quadriceps femoris and hamstring muscle group strength, and self-reported knee function survey scores. Groups 3 and 2 descended stairs more quickly than group 1; group 3 displayed greater involved and noninvolved knee extensor torque per body weight than group 1 or 2 and had superior self-reported knee function scores than group 1. Patient perception of chair-rise ability at approximately 3.6 weeks post-TKA is useful in helping physical therapists determine patient readiness to safely begin stair-climbing.
authors.affiliation: Division of Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA. john.nyland@louisville.edu
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nyland
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Frost
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Quesada
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Angeli
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Swank
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Topp
authors.forename: Art L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Malkani
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D018576:Home Health Aides / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult