Evaluation of the effects of a physiotherapy program on quality of life in females after unilateral total knee arthroplasty: a prospective study.
[Purpose] Osteoarthritis is a chronic and degenerative joint disease and is considered to be one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders. This study evaluated the differences in the quality of life of females treated with supervised physiotherapy and a standardized home program after unilateral total knee arthroplasty. [Subjects and Methods] From January 2012 to May 2015, a total of 40 females were examined at the Central Military Hospital in Ruzomberk, Slovakia. Quality of life was assessed with the Short Form-36. Quality of life and intensity of pain after normal daily activity, according to the visual analog scale, were assessed before total knee arthroplasty, immediately after physiotherapy, 3 months after total knee arthroplasty, and 6 months after total knee arthroplasty. [Results] We found statistically significant improvement of the quality of life results and a decreased intensity of pain at each time point compared with before total knee arthroplasty. [Conclusions] The results of this study provide further evidence indicating that patients who undergo total knee arthroplasty for primary osteoarthritis of the knee can achieve a significant improvement in the quality of life by using supervised physiotherapy compared with a standardized home program.
Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health, Catholic University, Slovakia; Department of Health Studies, College of Polytechnics, Czech Republic.
Zuzana
Z
Hudáková
Institute of Health Science, Podhale State Higher Vocational School, Poland.
Halina Romualda
HR
Zięba
Department of Education and Health Protection, Holycross College: 51 Mielczarskiego Str., 25-709 Kielce, Poland.
Paweł
P
Lizis
Department of Health Studies, College of Polytechnics, Czech Republic.
Vlasta
V
Dvořáková
Department of Health Studies, College of Polytechnics, Czech Republic.
Lada
L
Cetlová
Institute of Health Science, Podhale State Higher Vocational School, Poland.
Teresa
T
Friediger
Physiotherapy Cabinet, Bielski College named after Tyszkiewicz, Poland.
Wojciech
W
Kobza
Physiotherapy; Quality of life; Total knee arthroplasty