Biomechanics after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) often remain abnormal and may lead to prolonged postoperative recovery. The purpose of this study is to assess a biomechanical therapy after TKA.
This is a randomized controlled trial of 50 patients after unilateral TKA. One group underwent a biomechanical therapy in which participants followed a walking protocol while wearing a foot-worn biomechanical device that modifies knee biomechanics and the control group followed a similar walking protocol while wearing a foot-worn sham device. All patients had standard physical therapy postoperatively as well. Patients were evaluated throughout the first postoperative year with clinical measures and gait analysis.
Improved outcomes were seen in the biomechanical therapy group compared to the control group in pain scores (88% vs 38%, P = .011), function (86% vs 21%, P = .001), knee scores (83% vs 38%, P = .001), and walking distance (109% vs 47%, P = .001) at 1 year. The therapy group showed healthier biomechanical gait patterns in both the sagittal and coronal planes at 1 year.
A postoperative biomechanical therapy improves outcomes following TKA and should be considered as an additional therapy postoperatively.