Comparing the Efficacy of Aquatic Physiotherapy and Land-based Physiotherapy for Patients after Total Knee Replacement Surgery.
- Author:
Eun Cheol KANG
1
;
Sung Rak LEE
;
Jee Hyun HEO
;
Jong Pil KIM
;
Soon Young KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Physical Medcine and Rehabilitation, Cheju Halla General Hospital, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Aquatic physiotherapy;
Land-based physiotherapy;
Total knee arthroplasty;
Knee circumference;
VAS
- MeSH:
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee;
Humans;
Knee;
Walking
- From:Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Research Society
2012;15(2):62-71
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare the rehabilitation effects between aquatic physiotherapy and land-based physiotherapy after total knee arthroplasty. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: The study was performed by patients with TKA caused by knee OA. The participants were divided into two groups based on random sampling method. One group received aquatic physiotherapy while the other received land-base physiotherapy. Each physiotherapy program lasted 40 minutes a day, 5 days a week, for 1 week starting a week after the operation. Pertinent indicators, knee extensor strength, knee flexor strength, walking speed, knee circumference, WOMAC index and Visual analogue scale were recorded before and after the physiotherapy programs, 1 week, 2weeks and 6 weeks after the operation. RESULTS: The aquatic physiotherapy group showed statistically significant improvements in knees circumference and VAS scores, compared to the land-based physiotherapy group between 1week and 2 weeks after the operation, whereas no statistical differences were found in Knee extensor strength, knee flexor strength, walking speed and WOMAC index. CONCLUSION: The aquatic physiotherapy group showed statistically significant improvements in knee circumference and VAS scores compared to the land-based physiotherapy group between 1 and 2 weeks after the operation. Further studies are required to confirm these findings. We were able to conclude that aquatic physiotherapy is an alternative rehabilitation program for patients with TKA.
