34.
The feasibility of early Progressive Resistance Training after
Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty.
Peter Bo Jørgensen, Søren Bie Bogh, Kjeld Søballe, Henrik Sørensen, Inger
Buur Mechelnburg
Orthopaedic Research Unit Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark;
Orthopaedic Research Unit, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark;
Orthopaedic Research Unit, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark; The
Section of Sport Science, Public Health, Aarhus University; Orthopaedic
Research Unit, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
Background:
Muscle atrophy and decreases in muscle strength is documented
in early stages of knee osteoarthritis and increases with progression. Within the
first weeks after Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty (UKA) an additional
decrease in muscle strength is found.
Purpose / Aim of Study:
To investigate the feasibility of early progressive
resistance training (PRT) after UKA.
Materials and Methods:
27
patients scheduled for UKA were randomized for
either early PRT (n=15) or standard home exercise program (n=12). The PRT
was initiated within the first week after UKA and performed twice a week for
eight weeks in training machines. Before and two month after UKA, leg power
and inertia-sensor motion analysis (20 m walk and 6 Min walk) was
performed.
Findings / Results:
Mean pain increase during exercise was 0.17 (-3 to 3.5)
measured on VAS. Compliance for the intervention group was 85 %
participation. We found an increase in load in leg press, knee extension and
knee flexion of 460 %, 453 % and 39 % respectively and a decrease in number
of repetitions by 5.7, 2.0 and 4.3. Leg power in operated leg increased 14.26
Watt (p=0.13) with a difference of 9.7 Watt in favor of intervention group
(
p=0.54). At two months follow-up leg power in operated leg was closer to leg
power in non-operated leg for both groups. Self- selected walking speed
increased by 0.4 km/h (p=0.009), with a non- significant difference of 0.26
km/h (p=0.38) in favor of the intervention group. Asymmetry of walking
pattern was equal to preoperative values (p=0.80), and equal between groups
(
p=0.77).
Conclusions:
UKA patients are able to perform early PRT without
experiencing increasing pain while the training load increased progressively.
We found no indication of negative effects of PRT.
