title: Patients' reasons for electing to undergo total knee arthroplasty impact post-operative pain severity and range of motion.
abstract: The present study examines the reasons cited by 103 patients for their electing to undergo total knee arthroplastic surgery and the relationship between these reasons and their post-operative pain and range of motion. Results suggest that individuals who describe different reasons for undergoing surgery vary in their post-operative recovery. Specifically, patients who cite pain as the reason they are undergoing surgery report greater levels of pain during the early post-operative period. In contrast, patients who describe goals of regaining mobility or a specific activity as their reason for undergoing surgery achieve a greater range of motion during early post-operative physical therapy. Individuals who express avoidance goals for undergoing total knee arthroplasty report more severe post-operative pain at 1 and 3 months following surgery compared to patients who express approach goals. Interventions targeted towards patients reporting pre-operative pain or avoidance goals may decrease subsequent post-operative pain and increase mobility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Kent State University Stark Campus, 6000 Frank Ave NW, N Canton, OH 44720, USA. jcremean@kent.edu
authors.forename: Julie K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Cremeans-Smith
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Boarts
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Greene
authors.forename: Douglas L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Delahanty
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012044:Regression Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome