Impact of Prehabilitation in Total Knee Replacement
Impact of Prehabilitation in Total Knee Replacement
A study comparing the benefits of pre-habilitation exercise to standard care prior to total
 knee arthroplasy
Recovery post Total Knee Replacement Surgery ((TKA) has been a subject of interest. In a
 study of 379 patients who had hip or knee replacement surgery, it was reported that at 6
 months post-surgery patients with better baseline function had superior functional ability
 and less pain than patients with lower function at baseline. Another study of 276 patients
 undergoing TKA reported that pre-operative joint function was a predictor of joint function
 and overall function at 6 months post-surgery. These findings suggest that prehabilitation to
 increase functional ability prior to TKA may have a positive effect in recovering
 post-surgery. In a randomized control trial of patients receiving TKA, the group receiving an
 Exercise Program (prehabilitation) made significant improvements in performance from baseline
 to before surgery, and at 1 and 3 months post surgery. For the group that did not receive the
 Exercise Program pre-surgery, significant improvement did not occur until 3 months post
 surgery. The overall objective of the proposed single-blinded randomized controlled trial is
 to demonstrate that a well designed prehabilitation program for patients receiving TKA
 surgery will significantly improve outcomes related to pain and function and may reduce
 utilization of health care services post surgery.

 In this randomized control trial we hypothesize that the group of participants who receive a
 prehabilitation Exercise Program will recover quicker than patients who do not receive the
 Exercise Program based on several measures of performance including pain, quadriceps
 strength, range of motion and quality of life.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients scheduled to undergo unilateral TKA surgery

 -  Ambulatory

 -  Community dwelling (living at home)

 -  Able to participate in moderate intensity exercise

 -  American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification(ASA) 1 - 3

 -  Speaks English

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients who are planning a second surgery of the lower limbs during the six months
 post-surgery

 -  Have the effect of peripheral vascular disease or stroke on walking